More Moments in Time Images of Exemplary Nursing

Within most disciplines, there are those who are recognized by their colleagues as being exceptionally competent practitioners. These individuals do their work in such a remarkable way as to become a model for others. This book is based on a study of the beliefs, actions, and interactions of a group of extraordinary oncology nurses—the people their peers would choose to have care for them if they were diagnosed with cancer. Perry’s weaving of interviewee’s stories and her own field notes and poetry creates a very personal perspective on nursing that leaves the reader with a greater understanding of the experience, and rewards, of caring for others.

About the Author

Beth Perry has worked as both a nurse and an educator in medicine, oncology, and palliative care. She is an associate professor of nursing and health studies at Athabasca University.

Table of Contents

1. Preface
   1. Situating Exemplary Nursing in Health Care Today
   2. Exemplary Nurses and Career Satisfaction
   3. Time to Care
   4. Nurses Respond to Moments in Time: Images of Exemplary Nursing Care
2. Chapter 1:
   1. The Power and Promise of Exemplary Nursing Care
   2. Significance for Nurses
   3. Significance for Others
   4. Discovering Meanings
   5. The Organization of this Book
3. Chapter 2:
   1. The Multi-layered Landscape
   2. Caring for People with Cancer
   3. My Memories
4. Chapter 3:
   1. The Dialogue of Silence
   2. Learning to Use Silence
   3. Times When Silence is Useful
   4. The Gifts of Silence
   5. Forms of Silence
   6. Reflections on the Dialogue of Silence
5. Chapter 4:
   1. Mutual Touch
   2. Mutual Touch Defined
   3. The Importance of Touch in Health Care
   4. The Nature of Touch
   5. Types of Touch
   6. Touch and Silence
6. Chapter 5:
   1. Sharing the Lighter Side of Life
   2. The Lighthearted Attitude Defined
   3. The Value of Sharing Lightness
   4. Humour Comes in Many Forms
   5. Developing the Attitude
   6. The Trilogy Reviewed
7. Chapter 6:
   1. The Effects of Exemplary Nursing Care
   2. Connecting
   3. Affirming the Value of the Patient
   4. Affirming the Value of the Nurse
   5. Joint Transcendence: Living the Extraordinary
8. Chapter 7:
   1. Lessons Learned
   2. What Nurses Should Know
   3. Messages Addressed to Everyone
   4. What I Learned About Exemplary Nursing
9. Appendix:
   1. Research Design and Methodology
   2. Qualitative Inquiry
   3. Hermeneutic Phenomenology
   4. Research Method
10. References

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.5 CA). It may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes, provided that the original author is credited.