Experiences of early-career nurses working in specialist adolescent/young adult cancer units: A narrative inquiry

Cable, Maria, Watts, Tessa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1201-5192, Reagon, Carly ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6370-3705 and Kelly, Daniel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1847-0655 2023. Experiences of early-career nurses working in specialist adolescent/young adult cancer units: A narrative inquiry. Journal of Advanced Nursing 79 (8) , pp. 2871-2885. 10.1111/jan.15488

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Abstract

Aim To explore the experiences of early-career registered nurses working in specialist adolescent/young adult cancer units. Design Narrative Inquiry. Methods A purposive sample of nine early-career registered nurses from six specialist adolescent/young adult cancer units in the United Kingdom participated in online in-depth narrative conversations between October 2020 and January 2021. Data were analysed thematically using Clandinin and Connelly's (2000) metaphorical three-dimensional narrative inquiry approach focussed on commonplaces of temporality, sociality and place. Results The intensity and complexity of the nursing work associated with young patients and their families, over protracted periods, impacted the nurses personally and professionally. The similarity of age between patients and nurses was shown as having benefits as well as posing risks. The complexity of four types of nursing labour was highlighted: emotional, cognitive, physical and organizational providing justification for the provision of specialist training and support. Conclusion This study presents unique insights into the complex work of early-career nurses in specialist units that reveal challenges in caring for the distinct needs of this cancer patient population.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Healthcare Sciences
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	0309-2402
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	14 November 2022
Date of Acceptance:	21 October 2022
Last Modified:	23 Aug 2023 20:16
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/154158

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