F. Beryl Pilkington

The Lived Experience of Grieving the Loss of an Important Other

The purpose of this study was to uncover the structure of the lived experience of grieving the loss of an important other using Parses research methodology. Parses theory of human becoming provided the nursing perspective for the study. Five participants described their experience of grieving the loss of an important other through dialogical engagement with the researcher. The researcher dwelled with the transcribed descriptions and through the processes of extraction-synthesis uncovered the structure of the lived experience of grieving the loss of an important other as an anguished suffering in devastating void amidst consoling movements away from and together with the lost one and others while confidently moving beyond personal doubts. Linked to the major concepts of Parses theory through heuristic interpretation, the structure was abstracted as valuing the connecting-separating in transforming. The study adds to knowledge about grieving and expands Parses theory of nursing. Recommendations for practice and further research are offered.

Grieving a Loss: The Lived Experience for Elders Residing in an Institution:

Grieving a loss is a profound and universal human experience. This phenomenological-hermeneutic study was an inquiry into the lived experience of grieving a loss. The nursing perspective was Parse’s human becoming theory. Participants were 10 elderly persons residing in a long-term care facility. The study finding specifies the structure of the lived experience of grieving a loss as aching solitude amid enduring cherished affiliations, as serene acquiescence arises with sorrowful curtailments. Findings are discussed in relation to the guiding theoretical perspective and related literature. Recommendations for additional research and insights for practice are presented.

Quality of Life for Women Living with a Gynecologic Cancer

The purpose of this research study was to enhance understanding about quality of life from the perspective of women living with a gynecologic cancer. Parse’s human becoming theory provided the theoretical perspective and guided the descriptive exploratory methodology that was used. Participants were 14 women diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer. Through analysis-synthesis processes, four themes were identified, which provide the following unified description:Quality of life is treasuring loving expressions while affirming personal worth, as consoling immersions amid torment emerge with expanding fortitude for enduring. The findings suggest implications for quality care that honors persons’ experiences.

PERSISTING WHILE WANTING TO CHANGE: WOMEN'S LIVED EXPERIENCES

This article presents an inquiry into a common lived experience, which the author named persisting while wanting to change to signify the struggle of trying to change health patterns. Parses phenomenological-hermeneutic methodology was used to investigate the phenomenon, as it is lived by women in an abusive relationship. Through dialogical engagement with the researcher, eight women described their experiences of persisting while wanting to change. The generated structure and central finding contained three core concepts: wavering in abiding with the burdensome-cherished, engaging-distancing with ameliorating intentions, and anticipating the possibilites of the new. The core concepts are illustrated with excerpts from the dialogues and are discussed in relation to Parses human becoming theory and related literature. Findings are consistent with those of other studies in which leaving an abusive relationship was described as a process. Implications for practice and further research also are discussed.

Lived Experiences of Ghanaian Women With Obstetric Fistula

Obstetric fistula is a worldwide problem that is devastating for women. This qualitative descriptive study explores the experiences of Ghanaian women who sustained obstetric fistula during childbirth. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 participants. The resultant themes include cultural beliefs and practices surrounding prolonged labor in childbirth, barriers to delivering at a health care facility, and the challenges of living with obstetric fistula, including psychosocial, socioeconomic, physical, and health care access issues. Recommendations include strategies to address this complex problem, including education of men and women on safe motherhood practices, training of traditional birth attendants (TBAs), and improving access to health care.

Comfort-Discomfort with Ambiguity: Flight and Freedom in Nursing Practice

It has come to our attention that many nurses have a great deal of discomfort being with in dividuals and families during times of suffer ing, upset, or conflict. Upon reflection, many of these nurses express uncertainty about how to be or what to say that might be helpful. Furthermore, many nurses comment that they have not been prepared with the knowledge they believe they must have to practice during these challenging situations; and so, they flee from the fragile opportunity to have meaningful dialogue. We have learned from nurses that there is an intense discomfort with the ambiguity inherent during times of struggle. The purposes of this column are to explore ambiguity in a general way and in the nurse-person process, and then to consider the phenomenon of flight that some nurses describe. It is our hope that the column might help nurses embrace the ambiguity that is essential to partici pative practices with patients and families. Without ambigu ity, there might be little reason to seek understanding in one’s own thinking or in discussions with others. The meaning of ambiguity is thick with layers of paradox and nuance. For instance, in the literature, ambiguity is seen both as something inherent to human experience and choice and also as a disquietude that should be dispelled. For some people ambiguity is a source of hope, whereas for others it signals dread. For some, dwelling with ambiguity is viewed as a weakness, whereas for others it is seen as a strength and a sign of openness. The term ambiguity, in general and in nursing, has complex and multilayered meanings. Enhanced under standing of these meanings can help nurses reflect on their choices and actions to be, or not to be, with others.

Nurses' Experiences of Grieving When There Is a Perinatal Death

Many nurses grieve when patients die; however, nurses’ grief is not often acknowledged or discussed. Also, little attention is given to preparing nurses for this experience in schools of nursing and in orientations to health care organizations. The purpose of this research was to explore obstetrical and neonatal nurses’ experiences of grieving when caring for families who experience loss after perinatal death. A visual arts-informed research method through the medium of digital video was used, informed by human science nursing, grief concepts, and interpretive phenomenology. Five obstetrical nurses and one neonatal intensive care nurse who cared for bereaved families voluntarily participated in this study. Nurses shared their experiences of grieving during in-depth interviews that were professionally audio- and videotaped. Data were analyzed using an iterative process of analysis-synthesis to identify themes and patterns that were then used to guide the editing of the documentary. Thematic patterns identified throughout the data were growth and transformation amid the anguish of grief, professional and personal impact, and giving–receiving meaningful help. The thematic pattern of giving–receiving meaningful help was made up of three thematic threads: support from colleagues; providing authentic, compassionate, quality care; and education and mentorship. Nurses’ grief is significant. Nurses who grieve require acknowledgment, support, and education. Supporting staff through their grief may ultimately have a positive impact on quality of work life and home life for nurses and quality of care for bereaved families.

Developing Nursing Knowledge on Grieving: A Human Becoming Perspective

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Practice with Persons Living their Dying: A Human Becoming Perspective:

The purpose of this article is to discuss nursing practice with persons who are living their dying, from the perspective of Parse’s theory of human becoming. Quality of life from the person’s own perspective is the goal of practice guided by Parse’s theory; hence, it is particularly relevant for nurses in palliative care settings, where quality of life is paramount. The practice methodology is explained and illustrated with an example drawn from experiences with a woman in a hospice in South Korea. As this woman lived her dying, suffering, joy, and sorrow emerged in cocreated relationships with important others.

Exploring the Lived Experience of Waiting for Persons in Long-Term Care

The purpose of this study was to describe the meaning of waiting for persons who reside in long-term care settings. Parse’s theory of human becoming provided the nursing perspective and a qualitative descriptive-exploratory design was used. The 45 participants were residents in three different long-term care facilities affiliated with a university. Data were gathered through interviews. Three emergent themes formed the following unified description: The experience of waiting is intensifying ire while diversionary immersions reprieve amid unfolding becalming endurance. The themes are discussed in relation to participants’ descriptions, the human becoming theory, and related literature. Recommendations for practice and further research are presented.