The experience of being an older perioperative nurse

AORN Journal, Oct, 2003 by Susan Letvak

I performed data analysis concurrently with data collection. I interpreted the meaning of each nurse's story, and as more interviews were collected, I noted areas of differences and agreement and developed categories and themes. When no new findings were identified, I stopped recruiting participants. Data were traced through individual interview transcripts and then through the overall group to present a unified voice for the older perioperative nurse. The voices portrayed were from all participants in the study. 1

All research must respond to canons that stand as criteria against which the trustworthiness of the project can be evaluated. (23) I ensured that scientific rigor was met in this study by adhering to established strategies. (24) These strategies include

* an active analytical stance,

* investigator responsiveness,

* methodological coherence,

* saturation of the data, and

* theoretical sampling and sampling adequacy.

By following these strategies, I directed data analysis and development of the study as necessary to ensure that the completed project was reliable and valid.

FINDINGS

The participants in this study consisted of 14 perioperative nurses, aged 50 to 62 (mean [M] = 56.1) who were employed at least part time in staff level positions in the OR. Thirteen of the nurses were women; one perioperative nurse was a man. Thirteen of the participants were Caucasian and one was Asian. The nurses worked in five hospitals located in four counties of a southeastern state. Three of the hospitals are large teaching facilities, and two are community hospitals. Years worked in nursing ranged from 12 to 41 years (M = 31). Years worked in the OR ranged from nine to 32 years (M = 20.1). Ten of the participants worked on specialty teams, including urology, orthopedic, neurology, vascular, and trauma. Four of the nurses worked on general or float teams. Ten of the nurses worked full time, and four worked part time. Nine of the nurses were diploma prepared, three had associate's degrees, and two had bachelor's degrees. Three nurses planned on retiring at age 60, one at age 61, two at age 62, two at age 64, five at age 65 or older, and one was undecided, claiming she would "go as long as I can go."

Three central organizing themes emerged from the voices of the 14 nurses. The themes are identified as

* growing old in the OR,

* interpersonal and organizational concerns, and

* worries about the future.

In reporting study findings, pseudonyms are used to protect the nurses' identities. Table 1 provides a brief description of each participant using the assigned pseudonyms.

GROWING OLD IN THE OR. The voices of all 14 perioperative nurses clearly were heard early in data analysis when discussing self. They characterized themselves this way--"We are not just nurses, we are OR nurses, and we love what we do." A majority of the respondents have spent their entire careers in the OR. Ms F, who works as a member of a float team, said

   My entire career has been in the OR,
   and I love it. There is excitement.
   Different cases all the time--different
   patients, different people.
   Whatever comes to our door, you go
   in, and it is your turn.