An interpretative phenomenological analysis of how HIV nurses elicit patients' concerns

Croston, Michelle (2018) An interpretative phenomenological analysis of how HIV nurses elicit patients' concerns. Doctoral thesis (PhD), Manchester Metropolitan University.

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Abstract

The aim of the research was to explore how Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) nurses elicited patients concerns. Through the use of participants’ stories from clinical practice, the research explored how therapeutic relationships developed between the HIV nurse and patient. Through the use of story telling the nurses were able to explore situations in which they had dealt with strong emotions of patients with complex needs. HIV care has evolved as a result of the development of effective antiretroviral therapy and has now been categorised as a long term condition. As a result of advances in the medical treatment of HIV, the role of the HIV nurse has also developed. It is important to explore the impact of these changes for the role of HIV nurses in clinical practice when eliciting the concerns of their patients. Data were gathered using semi-structured interviews from ten nurses who volunteered to be involved in the study. The nurses were interviewed on a single occasion and were encouraged to share stories from their own clinical practice. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used and underpinned by Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology in order to analyse the data that was generated through the interviews. Alongside the participants stories I have also presented reflexive accounts from my own practice, which have helped in the development of the research The findings revealed that the process of eliciting patients’ concerns were a complex and multifactorial process. Analysis of the interviews revealed three superordinate themes: a way of being: HIV nurses’ experiences; the nurse-patient relationship and factors that impact on authentic care. Through these reflexive accounts from the HIV nurses’ clinical practice, a framework was developed for an HIV nursing philosophy that was patient-centred, non-judgemental and enabled nurses to elicit patient’s concerns. The research adds to the growing body of knowledge on the positive relationship that developed between the HIV nurse and patient. It also adds to the increasing body of knowledge of what it means to work in a patient centred way in order to elicit the concerns of patients.