“The Meaning of Case Conference as OJT” in Professional Development

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to clarify the meaning in case conferences intended to achieve professional development as OJT. It was qualitative analysis, and the method analyzed developing patterns of action in the case conference of 21 examples carried out by 27 nurses of A Hospital B ward, and consideration from the standpoint of the professional development.

As a result, the action in the case conferences were categorized into four groups: 〔recognizing and understanding the situation in question〕, 〔judging a subject〕, 〔deducing a target, course, and plan〕, and 〔supporting a primary nurse〕. In addition, the development patterns of the case conferences were four: Pattern1; By examining the situation and objectives, they made clear the method in solving the task, and investigated further into the aim and planning, Pattern 2; They shared both information and understanding mainly to decide a nursing diagnosis label, Pattern3; They understood the situation, and then examined and shared an aim/plan, Pattern 4; They discussed the case assisting the process of thinking of a primary nurse.

The meaning of case conference as OJT in professional development has three points: 1. A nurse recognizes the task in the care situation as one's own problem. To be a participant leads to the understanding of role and responsibility as a professional nurse. 2. The conference is a place not only for training of the thinking process of nursing, but for learning the collective solving. 3. Mutual development is possible when nurse with different background experience both exchange their knowledge and experience and accept their hesitation and opinion of the judgement.