Role Formation among Administrative Public Health Nurses in Their Support of Children Receiving Medical Care and Their Families

Abstract

Objective: To identify the formation of roles among public health nurses in their support of children receiving medical care and their families.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight public health nurses at a public health center in a government-designated city. The content was analyzed using a modified version of the grounded theory approach (M-GTA).

Results: Role formation among public health nurses is marked by “uncertainty about their position and confidence as public health nurses,” “hesitation to get involved due to low self-esteem,” followed by “a series of realizations that led them to support the children.” Consequently, nurses developed an “awareness of the roles of public health nurses. ” They used their strengths in community-based activities, demonstrating their abilities in such roles as providing support for children’s rehabilitation and school attendance, providing emotional support for families, and creating community networks.

Discussion: When providing medical care to children, continued support led to nurses gaining confidence and a sense of affirmation. They also recognized the core of their activities: 1) their roles as public health nurses, 2) the strengths of public health nurses, and 3) the core of their own public health nurse activities. These, in turn, became the driving forces behind role formation. For their “uncertainty” to be replaced by “an invigoration of their activities,” sharing support objectives in the workplace will be necessary in the future.