Year

2000

Paper Type

Doctoral Dissertation

College

College of Education and Human Services

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EdD)

Department

Education

First Advisor

Dr. Elinor A. Scheirer

Second Advisor

Dr. Charles M. Galloway

Third Advisor

Dr. Joyce T. Jones

Fourth Advisor

Dr. Sharon T. Wilburn

Department Chair

Dr. John J. Venn

College Dean

Dr. Katherine M. Kasten

Abstract

Little is known of the way that nurses' roles have evolved within a hospital setting in which efficient and affective interventions include caring for sicker patients. The emergence of the Patient Care Coordinator (PCC) is one role that nursing developed to participate in an interdisciplinary collaborative team approach to caring for sicker patients.

This qualitative study examined the exemplary role of eleven PCCs who practice in a regional nonprofit medical center. Research methodologies included interview, non-participant observation, and analysis of historical data. Interview questions were developed from the literature review on collaboration, caring, expertise, communication, and knowing the patient. Cognitive mapping comprised the initial organization of data. Grounded theory (Strauss, 1987), connoisseurship, and educational criticism (Eisner, 1991) comprised the design for further analysis. The results comprised the attributes of caring from a team perspective.

This study helps demonstrate how caring for patients with complex acute and chronic health needs involves many attributes that are included in five themes: agility, confidence, leadership, quality, and stewardship. Further development of these themes may affect the ways that educational leaders explore the learning needs of nurses within academic and professional development opportunities.

Download

Included in

Nursing Commons

Share

COinS