IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i17p6664-d1227135.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

“Collapsing into Darkness”: An Exploratory Qualitative Thematic Analysis of the Experience of Workplace Reintegration among Nurses with Operational Stress Injuries

Author

Listed:
  • Chelsea Jones

    (Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
    Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada)

  • Brenda Juby

    (Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • Shaylee Spencer

    (Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • Lorraine Smith-MacDonald

    (Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
    St. Stephen’s College, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • Elly O’Greysik

    (Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
    Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada
    Faculty of Nursing, MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB T5J 2P2, Canada)

  • Michelle Vincent

    (Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • Colleen Mooney

    (Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton, AB T5H 0H7, Canada)

  • Katherine S. Bright

    (Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
    Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada
    Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4V8, Canada
    School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Community and Education, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB T3E 6K6, Canada)

  • Phillip R. Sevigny

    (Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
    Faculty of Education, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • Lisa Burback

    (Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
    Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada
    Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • Andrew Greenshaw

    (Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
    Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • R. Nicholas Carleton

    (Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
    Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada)

  • Raymond Savage

    (Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Edmonton, AB T5G 2T4, Canada)

  • Jake Hayward

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • Yanbo Zhang

    (Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
    Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB T5J 3E4, Canada
    Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • Bo Cao

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

  • Suzette Brémault-Phillips

    (Heroes in Mind, Advocacy and Research Consortium, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
    Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada)

Abstract

Background: Nurses are engaged in an unpredictable and dynamic work environment where they are exposed to events that may cause or contribute to physical and/or psychological injuries. Operational stress injury (OSI) may lead to an extended time away from work or nurses leaving the profession altogether. A deliberate focus on the workplace reintegration phase of the mental health recovery process may lead to the increased retention of nurses in their profession. Prior to the creation and implementation of potential solutions to address workplace reintegration, it is imperative to explore the experiences and perceptions of nurses affected by OSI. This qualitative study aims to investigate the experiences and perceptions of nurses ( N = 7) employed within a Canadian provincial healthcare system who have attempted workplace reintegration after being off of work with an OSI. Methods: Nurses were recruited via social media, unit emails, and word of mouth. Data were collected through recorded semi-structured interviews conducted over videoconferencing. Once transcribed, the data were thematically analyzed using an inductive approach. Results: The resulting themes included (1) heroes to zeros, (2) changing the status quo, (3) connection is key, and (4) post-traumatic growth: advocacy and altruism. Study participants indicated both that nursing culture and a cumulation of events contributed to a need for a leave of absence from work and that a formalized process was desired by nurses to assist in returning to work. Conclusions: The development, implementation, and exploration of innovative policies, procedures, and initiatives to bridge the gap from clinical interventions to workplace reintegration are needed for nurses experiencing OSI. Further research is also needed regarding mental health impacts and appropriate resources to support nurses in their workplace reintegration process after experiencing psychological and/or physical injury.

Suggested Citation

  • Chelsea Jones & Brenda Juby & Shaylee Spencer & Lorraine Smith-MacDonald & Elly O’Greysik & Michelle Vincent & Colleen Mooney & Katherine S. Bright & Phillip R. Sevigny & Lisa Burback & Andrew Greensh, 2023. "“Collapsing into Darkness”: An Exploratory Qualitative Thematic Analysis of the Experience of Workplace Reintegration among Nurses with Operational Stress Injuries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(17), pages 1-18, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:17:p:6664-:d:1227135
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/17/6664/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/17/6664/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chelsea Jones & Elly O’Greysik & Brenda Juby & Shaylee Spencer & Michelle Vincent & Lorraine Smith-MacDonald & Colleen Mooney & Suzette Brémault-Phillips, 2023. "How Do We Keep our Heads above Water? An Embedded Mixed-Methods Study Exploring Implementation of a Workplace Reintegration Program for Nurses Affected by Operational Stress Injury," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-17, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.

      Corrections

      All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:17:p:6664-:d:1227135. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

      If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

      If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

      If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

      For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

      Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

      IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.