An Exploration Of The Views, Beliefs And Experiences Of UK Nurses And Midwives About Responding At Out Of Work Situations Where First Aid May Be Required.

Background: The nature of responding to or experiencing situations where first aid is indicated during off-duty time has been the subject of anecdotal debate in the healthcare professions. Despite this, very limited primary evidence exists in nursing, midwifery and the wider professions. Aim: To explore the nature of UK nurses’ and midwives’ experiences, beliefs and perceptions about responding at off-duty situations where first aid may be required with a view to developing an in-depth understanding of the area. Methodology: A constructivist grounded theory approach was employed to provide an in-depth exploration of 16 nurses’ and midwives’ views about responding to off-duty situations where first aid may be required. Within this broad context the research focus was one of open inquiry due to the paucity of primary evidence. The main sample was selected via a participant referral process that took place over a 2-year period. Loosely structured interviews enabled the discovery of rich data resulting in theme construction that led to the development of a substantive grounded theory. Findings: A core enduring in vivo theme, 'The Right Thing to Do', emerged as a central and consistent conceptual reality constructed via three key in vivo themes; 'Something I've Heard', 'Am I Covered?', 'Just Who I Am', each with a number of sub-themes. A pervading anxiety about responding at off-duty situations requiring first aid was persistently evident across these themes. Discussion: The study illuminates an area that has previously been the subject of largely anecdotal debate. The substantive theory of 'doing "The Right Thing" in a climate of anxiety' explores and illustrates the issues and tensions that exist surrounding the off-duty response. Implications and recommendations for practice and education curricula focus on the fostering of knowledge and understanding of professional identity, position in law and scope of practice, together with potential future research directions. This study provides the first qualitative primary evidence, and the second overall research study in the area, iv contributing a significant new perspective to a key area of practice, both nationally and globally. Limitations are acknowledged and outlined. Conclusion: This study found a strong sense of moral agency among nurses and midwives, despite a powerful underlying feeling of anxiety surrounding broader issues of urban myth, protection, and personal and professional identity. The substantive theory emerged as 'doing "The Right Thing" in a climate of anxiety'