Becoming and being an environmentally ‘woke’ nurse: A phenomenological study

Louise Terry; Rosetta West

doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2019.04.011

Becoming and being an environmentally ‘woke’ nurse: A phenomenological study

Louise Terry, Rosetta West

Social Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Increasing numbers of nurses view environmental activism as part of their role. No studies have explored the reasons. Aim: This study aimed to identify what awakened and shaped US and UK nurses’ environmental activism. Design: A Gadamerian hermaneutic phenomenological study Methods: Forty nurses were recruited in 2017 using purposive sampling (USA n = 23, UK n = 17). Four focus groups were followed by individual interviews. Iterative, fully-immersive phenomenological analysis was conducted with corroboration of themes and a final ‘shared horizon’. Discussion: Participants described ‘lightbulb’ events whereby they recognized environmental threats to people and the planet. Their nursing-centered values of social justice, generational fairness and alleviating suffering underpinned a shared belief in their ability to help mitigate those threats. They believed it was their duty as nurses to take action on behalf of individuals, communities and the planet. Their nursing skillset makes for effective leadership and environmental activism.

Original language	English
Journal	Nursing Outlook
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2019.04.011
Publication status	Published - 28 May 2019

Keywords

Environmental activism
Ethics
Social justice
Environmental health
Nurses
Gadamerian hermaneutic phenomenology

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10.1016/j.outlook.2019.04.011Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

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title = "Becoming and being an environmentally {\textquoteleft}woke{\textquoteright} nurse: A phenomenological study",

abstract = "Background: Increasing numbers of nurses view environmental activism as part of their role. No studies have explored the reasons. Aim: This study aimed to identify what awakened and shaped US and UK nurses{\textquoteright} environmental activism. Design: A Gadamerian hermaneutic phenomenological study Methods: Forty nurses were recruited in 2017 using purposive sampling (USA n = 23, UK n = 17). Four focus groups were followed by individual interviews. Iterative, fully-immersive phenomenological analysis was conducted with corroboration of themes and a final {\textquoteleft}shared horizon{\textquoteright}. Discussion: Participants described {\textquoteleft}lightbulb{\textquoteright} events whereby they recognized environmental threats to people and the planet. Their nursing-centered values of social justice, generational fairness and alleviating suffering underpinned a shared belief in their ability to help mitigate those threats. They believed it was their duty as nurses to take action on behalf of individuals, communities and the planet. Their nursing skillset makes for effective leadership and environmental activism.",

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author = "Louise Terry and Rosetta West",

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AU - Terry, Louise

AU - West, Rosetta

PY - 2019/5/28

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N2 - Background: Increasing numbers of nurses view environmental activism as part of their role. No studies have explored the reasons. Aim: This study aimed to identify what awakened and shaped US and UK nurses’ environmental activism. Design: A Gadamerian hermaneutic phenomenological study Methods: Forty nurses were recruited in 2017 using purposive sampling (USA n = 23, UK n = 17). Four focus groups were followed by individual interviews. Iterative, fully-immersive phenomenological analysis was conducted with corroboration of themes and a final ‘shared horizon’. Discussion: Participants described ‘lightbulb’ events whereby they recognized environmental threats to people and the planet. Their nursing-centered values of social justice, generational fairness and alleviating suffering underpinned a shared belief in their ability to help mitigate those threats. They believed it was their duty as nurses to take action on behalf of individuals, communities and the planet. Their nursing skillset makes for effective leadership and environmental activism.

AB - Background: Increasing numbers of nurses view environmental activism as part of their role. No studies have explored the reasons. Aim: This study aimed to identify what awakened and shaped US and UK nurses’ environmental activism. Design: A Gadamerian hermaneutic phenomenological study Methods: Forty nurses were recruited in 2017 using purposive sampling (USA n = 23, UK n = 17). Four focus groups were followed by individual interviews. Iterative, fully-immersive phenomenological analysis was conducted with corroboration of themes and a final ‘shared horizon’. Discussion: Participants described ‘lightbulb’ events whereby they recognized environmental threats to people and the planet. Their nursing-centered values of social justice, generational fairness and alleviating suffering underpinned a shared belief in their ability to help mitigate those threats. They believed it was their duty as nurses to take action on behalf of individuals, communities and the planet. Their nursing skillset makes for effective leadership and environmental activism.

KW - Environmental activism

KW - Ethics

KW - Social justice

KW - Environmental health

KW - Nurses

KW - Gadamerian hermaneutic phenomenology

U2 - 10.1016/j.outlook.2019.04.011

DO - 10.1016/j.outlook.2019.04.011

M3 - Article

SN - 1528-3968

JO - Nursing Outlook

JF - Nursing Outlook

ER -

Becoming and being an environmentally ‘woke’ nurse: A phenomenological study

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