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Nursing Practices in Catholic Healthcare: A Case Study of Nurses in a Catholic Private Hospital

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Abstract

We aimed to investigate Catholic Identity and Mission communication specifically how nurses were expressing the Catholic healthcare values in practice. A mixed-methods, case study design was used and included non-participant observation, a mid-level manager focus group (n = 7) and online surveys (n = 144). Document and observational data analysis revealed the organisation’s commitment to visible indication of Catholic values adherence. Focus group analysis revealed two themes, ‘Catholic values in action’ and ‘taking the extra step’. The impact of Catholic Identity and Mission on nurses and nursing care recipients remains elusive and warrants further understanding.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by St Vincent’s Private Hospital Melbourne Ltd. The funding organisation had no involvement in the research design, conduct or associated publications arising from the study. The authors would like to thank Ms Catherine Humphrey and Mr Dexter Rogers for their assistance with data collection and also Gerard Smith for his contribution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, John St, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia

    Karen-leigh Edward

  2. Nursing Research Unit, St Vincent’s Private Hospital Melbourne, 59-61 Victoria Pde, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065, Australia

    Karen-leigh Edward & Kate Kay

  3. Human and Health Science, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK

    Karen-leigh Edward

  4. Faculty of Health Science, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia

    Jo-Ann Giandinoto & Cally Mills

Authors
  1. Karen-leigh Edward
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  2. Jo-Ann Giandinoto
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  3. Cally Mills
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  4. Kate Kay
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Correspondence to Karen-leigh Edward.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Edward, Kl., Giandinoto, JA., Mills, C. et al. Nursing Practices in Catholic Healthcare: A Case Study of Nurses in a Catholic Private Hospital. J Relig Health 57, 1664–1678 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0520-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0520-z

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