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Ambulance clinicians' experiences of relationships with patients and significant others
Author(s) -
Holmberg Mats,
Wahlberg Anna Carin,
Fagerberg Ingegerd,
Forslund Kerstin
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
nursing in critical care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.689
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1478-5153
pISSN - 1362-1017
DOI - 10.1111/nicc.12196
Subject(s) - perspective (graphical) , surrender , focus group , medicine , relevance (law) , qualitative research , interpersonal communication , interpersonal relationship , nursing , psychology , social psychology , social science , archaeology , marketing , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , political science , law , business , history
Background Ambulance clinicians ( AC s) have to provide advanced care and treatment to patients in a challenging and emotionally demanding environment, therefore they establish interpersonal relationships embracing both patients and significant others. Relationships in emergency care were earlier found to be short‐lived and lacking a holistic understanding of the patient. In their relationship with the ambulance clinicians, it is for patients to surrender and become dependent, which may be interpreted as both a negative and a positive experience. Aim The aim of this study was to elucidate ambulance clinicians' experiences of relationships with patients and significant others. Methods Data were collected from four focus group conversations, with a total of 18 participating ambulance clinicians. An inductive qualitative content analysis method was chosen. Findings The analysis resulted in one main category: ‘To be personal in a professional role’ and three generic categories: ‘To be there for the affected person’, ‘To be personally involved’ and ‘To have a professional mission’. There were subsequently nine sub‐categories. The main category was described as intertwining the experience of being both personal and professional. The ambulance clinicians adapt to a situation while having the affected person in focus. They involve themselves as persons but at the same time use the power of their professional role. Conclusion The relationship with patients and significant others from the ambulance clinicians' perspective can be understood as embracing both personal and professional aspects. Relevance to clinical practice This study provides an understanding of the ambulance clinicians' professional role as embracing a personal perspective, which is important when developing an emergency ambulance service focusing on care that involves more than just emergency medical treatment.