Citation

Skillen DL, Olson JK, Gilbert JA. West. J. Nurs. Res. 2001; 23(7): 664-678.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/01939450122045474

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to conduct a thematic analysis of unanalyzed semistructured interview segments from data that emerged during an earlier exploratory descriptive study on organizational factors and work hazards. The sample consisted of 56 transcribed interviews with staff and managerial public health nurses (PHNs) in five health units of the Province of Alberta before health care restructuring. The framework that resulted from this secondary analysis describes the ideologies (values, beliefs, concepts, and attitudes) of female PHNs related to their workplace environmental risks. Four categories of the overarching theme, framing personal risk in work environments, emerged: becoming aware, recognizing influences, comparing with others, and knowing rights and freedoms. Two subthemes also emerged: framing for no action and framing for action. When framing for no action, PHNs were either unconcerned or wanted to avoid trouble. When framing for action, PHNs found humor, took responsibility, used voice, collected support, and struggled for action.