title: The poetics of professionalism among dialysis technicians.
abstract: The vast majority of care for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients is provided by skilled (but not formally educated) paraprofessional technicians. Using Goffman's (1959) framing of the performance of self in everyday discourse, this study examines discourse from dialysis technicians and technical aides to explore these paraprofessionals' construction and performance of professional identity and professional communication within the context of an outpatient dialysis clinic. Themes of professionalism--individualized care, vigilance, teamwork, and emotion management--are illustrated via poetic transcription of interviews with technicians. I contend that such representation offers validity equal to that of traditional research accounts while embodying alternative representational strengths.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication and Women's & Gender Studies Program, Santa Clara University, CA 95053, USA. lellingson@scu.edu
authors.forename: Laura L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Ellingson
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003956:Dialysis; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations