Date of Award
Spring 1978
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Nursing
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify humanizing and dehumanizing nursing actions from the viewpoints of recently hospitalized medical intensive care unit patients. An interview guide with open-ended questions was used by the investigator with a consecutive sample of fifteen recent MICU patients in their homes within one week after hospital discharge. The total patient group gave 137 responses identifying humanizing nursing actions and 3 responses identifying dehumanizing nursing actions. These responses were classified into three major categories and twelve subcategories established by Henry as caring nursing behaviors. Two additional subcategories were created in order to classify a number of similar miscellaneous responses. The three major categories were: (1) What the Nurse Does, (2) How the Nurse Does, (3) How Much the Nurse Does. The largest number of responses (74 or 54%) were categorized in the major category, "What the Nurse Does." Most patients identified humanizing nursing actions that were classified in a combination of "What the Nurse Does" and "How the Nurse Does." Only two of the fifteen patients identified dehumanizing nursing actions. The limited number of dehumanizing nursing actions indicated recent medical intensive care unit patients generally regarded the nursing care they received in the medical intensive care unit as humanizing.
Recommended Citation
Kolis, Mary Ann Mix, "Identification of Humanizing and Dehumanizing Nursing Actions from the Viewpoints of Recently Hospitalized Patients of a Medical Intensive Care Unit" (1978). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 3423.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/3423