Author
- Jason Mills1
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT)1
2018
Excerpt
Biography:
Jason is a lecturer in the QUT School of Nursing, and a current editor for Collegian – the Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship, and Research. He is also a Fellow of the Australian College of Nursing and the Higher Education Academy.
Jason graduated with First Class Honours in Nursing and holds postgraduate qualifications in medical anthropology, mental health, positive education, and health-promoting palliative care. Having published previous research on community capacity building, Jason’s PhD examined palliative care professionals’ capacity for self-care, as well as compassion and self-compassion as related positive emotions.
Background
Self-care practice is often discussed within the palliative care workforce, yet is relatively under-researched. While palliative care nurses are required to implement and maintain effective self-care strategies, there appears little evidence to guide them in practice. There is also an apparent need to clarify the meaning of self-care in the clinical context of palliative care practice.
Aim
This paper reports qualitative findings from a broader mixed-methods study with an aim of exploring the meaning and practice of self-care, as described by palliative care nurses.
Methods
A purposeful sample of palliative care nurses across Australia participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed prior to inductive qualitative content analysis, supported by QSR NVivo data management software.
Results
Three overarching themes emerged from the analysis: (1) A proactive and holistic approach to promoting personal health and wellbeing to support professional care of others; (2) Personalised self-care strategies within professional and non-professional contexts; and (3) Barriers and enablers to self-care practice.
Conclusion
This study contributes a detailed account of the context and complexity of effective self-care practice previously lacking in the literature. Self-care is a proactive, holistic, and personalised approach to the promotion of health and wellbeing through a variety of strategies—both within and outside the workplace—to enhance capacity for compassionate care provided through therapeutic relationships. It is a shared responsibility between palliative care professionals practising self-care, and the palliative care services in which they work; given that staff support, and positive workplace cultures are necessary to help manage various barriers and enablers to effective self-care practice. This research provides an important qualitative perspective, and serves to foster knowledge of both the context and effective practice of self-care in the palliative care workforce.
Jason is a lecturer in the QUT School of Nursing, and a current editor for Collegian – the Australian Journal of Nursing Practice, Scholarship, and Research. He is also a Fellow of the Australian College of Nursing and the Higher Education Academy.
Jason graduated with First Class Honours in Nursing and holds postgraduate qualifications in medical anthropology, mental health, positive education, and health-promoting palliative care. Having published previous research on community capacity building, Jason’s PhD examined palliative care professionals’ capacity for self-care, as well as compassion and self-compassion as related positive emotions.
Background
Self-care practice is often discussed within the palliative care workforce, yet is relatively under-researched. While palliative care nurses are required to implement and maintain effective self-care strategies, there appears little evidence to guide them in practice. There is also an apparent need to clarify the meaning of self-care in the clinical context of palliative care practice.
Aim
This paper reports qualitative findings from a broader mixed-methods study with an aim of exploring the meaning and practice of self-care, as described by palliative care nurses.
Methods
A purposeful sample of palliative care nurses across Australia participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed prior to inductive qualitative content analysis, supported by QSR NVivo data management software.
Results
Three overarching themes emerged from the analysis: (1) A proactive and holistic approach to promoting personal health and wellbeing to support professional care of others; (2) Personalised self-care strategies within professional and non-professional contexts; and (3) Barriers and enablers to self-care practice.
Conclusion
This study contributes a detailed account of the context and complexity of effective self-care practice previously lacking in the literature. Self-care is a proactive, holistic, and personalised approach to the promotion of health and wellbeing through a variety of strategies—both within and outside the workplace—to enhance capacity for compassionate care provided through therapeutic relationships. It is a shared responsibility between palliative care professionals practising self-care, and the palliative care services in which they work; given that staff support, and positive workplace cultures are necessary to help manage various barriers and enablers to effective self-care practice. This research provides an important qualitative perspective, and serves to foster knowledge of both the context and effective practice of self-care in the palliative care workforce.