Sharing the Journey: Being an Exemplary Role Model

• Main Author: Perry, Beth
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: oncology nurses; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2149/2607

I presented the paper to approximately 150 conference participants in the main ballroom. It was a concurrent session. The session was positively received and several people asked questions and commented following the presentation. I provided my AU business card to several prospective graduate students and I was able to chat face to face with one current MHS student. I was invited to present a paper at the next CANO conference in Newfoundland in September 2008. This invitation to present at the 2008 conference will motivate me to extend the analysis of this data set and further my literature review. Perhaps I will focus my next paper on compassion fatigue and the possible effects that performing at an exemplary level could have on preventing compassion fatigue in oncology nurses. Nurses are constantly being observed. Patients, family members, students, and colleagues watch their actions and interpersonal interactions. Often nurses are role models potentially influencing the behaviors and attitudes of others in either positive or negative ways. As Bartz (2007) observed, role models “serve as a catalyst to transform as they instruct, counsel, guide, and facilitate the development of others” (p. 7). This paper describes the role modeling behaviors of exemplary palliative care nurses and the effect on others. The participants in this project were nurses who were identified by their colleagues as outstanding caregivers. At the outset of this study all of the nurses on a palliative care unit in a larger tertiary care hospital were asked the question, “If you were ill, which of your nurse colleagues would you want to care for you?” Nominations were sent to the investigator anonymously and from those nominated 8 nurses were randomly chosen to participate in the study. The researcher collected data by interviewing and observing these outstanding nurses over a period of 40 weeks. Data analysis revealed themes. One major theme was that these outstanding nurses were also excellent role models. What made them outstanding ...