Thesis
Having the light attitude: an integrated postmodern feminist investigation of women graduate registered nurses and playfulness
Southern Cross University, School of Nursing and Health Care Practices
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Southern Cross University
2003
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Abstract
This research investigated the playful experiences of a group of women graduate registered nurses within a clinical nursing context. Four specific aims were explored in relation to play: what playfulness constitutes within nursing for GRNs; the degree to which playfulness is a factor in managing stress in clinical nursing environments; the degree to which playfulness was involved in the GRNs assimilation of a new professional role into their concept of self; and, whether play was a factor within personal and professional development of the GRNs.
The research methodology utilised an 'integrated' postmodern feminist theoretical frame and the research study was conducted as a multi-sited ethnography. Nine women participants were involved in the research and were drawn from two metropolitan hospitals in Western Australia. Data collection occurred over a five-six month period. Three interwoven research methods were embedded and these were participant observation, interviews, and reflective journalling.
The findings of this research demonstrated that the women's experience and interpretation of their playfulness was inextricably linked to their individual and unique socio-political contexts. More explicitly, the results revealed three crucial, interlaced aspects of the women's perceptions and experiences of playfulness in their clinical nursing settings. These were that play was evidenced within the women's intrapersonal, interpersonal and institutional relationships. Play emerged as multiplicitous, versatile and flexible, and as intrinsically connected to the women GRNs sense of self. Furthermore play emerged as a versatile and valuable tool, both personally and professionally, and as a flexible instrument in the women's negotiation of their transition period.
Details
- Title
- Having the light attitude: an integrated postmodern feminist investigation of women graduate registered nurses and playfulness
- Creators
- Ruth Cresswell Walter
- Contributors
- Nel Glass (Supervisor) - Southern Cross UniversityKierrynn Davis (Supervisor) - Southern Cross University
- Awarding Institution
- Southern Cross University; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Theses
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Southern Cross University
- Publisher
- Southern Cross University, School of Nursing and Health Care Practices
- Number of pages
- xvi, 360
- Identifiers
- 991012957299602368
- Copyright
- © Ruth C. Walter 2003
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Health
- Resource Type
- Thesis