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Experiences and views of nursing home nurses in England regarding occupational role and status

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Abstract

The aim of this article was to explore nursing home (NH) nurses’ perceptions of what influences their occupational status. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was taken, during which 13 nurses from 7 NHs for older people located in England were each interviewed up to five times using an episodic interview technique. Findings suggested that economic policies regarding funding long-term care, and perceptions of the nature of work undertaken in NHs, may together negatively impact the occupational status of nurses working in these settings. This reduced occupational status is proposed as a factor which shapes nurses’ perception of this role. Low occupational status may also impact on these nurses’ ability to enact the role. Finally, the article documents how NH nurses may attempt to manage issues of status in order to retain occupational esteem.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Healthcare, Northumbria University, Coach Lane Campus, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7XA, UK

    Juliana Thompson & Glenda Cook

  2. Cambridge Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0SR, UK

    Robbie Duschinsky

Authors
  1. Juliana Thompson
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  2. Glenda Cook
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  3. Robbie Duschinsky
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Correspondence to Juliana Thompson.

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Thompson, J., Cook, G. & Duschinsky, R. Experiences and views of nursing home nurses in England regarding occupational role and status. Soc Theory Health 14, 372–392 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1057/sth.2016.3

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