title: Enjoyment in nursing--experiences from the clinical milieu.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present findings from a qualitative study which aimed to explore and describe experiences of enjoyment in nursing.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The topic of 'enjoying nursing' is often part of job satisfaction surveys conducted in the workplace and in some studies it has been found to be the prime reason that nurses stay in the workforce. However, there is little research which explores the concept fully.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative in-depth interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 17 nurses in a local health district in Sydney, Australia. Data from digitally recorded individual interviews were transcribed and the content was analysed for themes relating to aspects of nursing that were enjoyable and others that were not.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The major themes to emerge from the data describing enjoyment of nursing were: doing for others, supporting others and educating others. Themes that identified not enjoying nursing were related to the aggression of others, i.e. patients/clients, families or other staff in the workplace, as well as system issues. System issues referred mainly to the need for support from other nurses and management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses still enjoy caring for patients and teaching others to care. This is the reason they remain in nursing even though the system and people are not always supportive or encouraging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Managers and educators can use these results to assist them to understand the importance of giving support to nursing staff to optimise their enjoyment of caring for their patients/clients.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia.|Centre for Nursing Research and Practice Development, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, Nepean Hospital, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilkes
authors.affiliation: Community Projects, Primary Care and Community Health Network Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, Nepean Hospital, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doull
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia.|Centre for Nursing Research and Practice Development, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, Nepean Hospital, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Harrison
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ng Chok
authors.affiliation: Western Sydney University, Centre for Nursing Research and Practice Development, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, Nepean Hospital, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mashingaidze
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009740:Nursing Staff; D036301:Qualitative Research; D017132:Workplace
keywords: nurse enjoyment; qualitative interviews; work life balance; workplace development