Public nursing home staff's experience of participating in an intervention aimed at enhancing their self-esteem.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to gain an understanding of how nursing staff experienced participating in a training programme aimed at strengthening their self-esteem and empowering them, to determine whether participation benefited them in any way, and to describe their opinions about possible benefits or disadvantages.


BACKGROUND
Staff working in institutions such as nursing homes have a low status in society. A training programme was introduced to staff in a public nursing home. It focused on helping them understand factors in the work situation that influence them and on empowering them.


METHODS
The study was explorative and qualitative in design.


RESULTS
The participants in the programme were generally satisfied with it. Their opinions about the benefits they received from the programme can be described using three themes: 'improved communication skills', 'enhanced self-esteem' and 'sees work in a different light'.


CONCLUSIONS
The most important finding of the present study is that it was possible to strengthen and empower staff. Staff members were generally pleased and satisfied with the content/organization of the training programme. They felt the programme had been of value to them by improving their communication skills and increasing their self-esteem.


CONCLUSIONS
The present result could be of value to managers and educators working in the area of nursing home care when planning education and development activities for staff. Learning to communicate better and understand the social structure at the workplace could improve staff members' self-esteem, thereby enhancing the work situation and atmosphere as well as empowering the individuals.
Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Section of Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, SE-752 37 Uppsala, Sweden. barbro.wadensten@pubcare.uu.se
Barbro
B
Wadensten
Maria
M
Engström
Elisabeth
E
Häggström
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D011209:Power, Psychological; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment; D012938:Social Perception