The consequences of nurses' endeavors to overcome inter-professional discrimination

Nurs Ethics. 2019 Nov-Dec;26(7-8):2058-2070. doi: 10.1177/0969733018791319. Epub 2018 Sep 2.

Abstract

Background: Discrimination in nursing has led to the formation of some taboos that often impact the individual's professional development. Nurses use strategies to overcome discrimination that can lead to consequences.

Research objective: This study assessed nurses' experiences to explore the consequences of Iranian nurses' strategies to overcome intra-professional discrimination.

Research design: This qualitative content analysis study employed purposive sampling to reach 25 nurses working at educational hospitals in Tehran, Tabriz, and Ilam, Iran. The data were collected using deep and unstructured interviews along with notes in a period of time between April 2016 and May 2017. Interviews were simultaneously analyzed using inductive and conventional content analysis method after being transcribed.

Ethical consideration: This study was approved by the Regional Committee of Medical Research Ethics. Also, voluntary participation, anonymity, and confidentiality were considered.

Findings: Two themes emerged from our analysis due to consequences of nurses' efforts to overcome intra-professional discrimination: "seeking justice" and "passivity."

Discussion: Nurses' efforts to overcome professional discrimination have led to outcomes. These outcomes can be affect on their individual effort to achieve organizational goals, provide better care or feel disabling or nurses turnover.

Conclusion: Strategies adopted by nurses to overcome intra-professional discrimination have led to consequences which vary from negative to positive and impact their performance.

Keywords: Consequence; Iran; discrimination; nurses; qualitative study; strategy.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interprofessional Relations*
  • Interviews as Topic / methods
  • Iran
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nurses / psychology*
  • Nurses / standards
  • Nurses / statistics & numerical data
  • Qualitative Research
  • Social Discrimination / psychology*
  • Social Discrimination / statistics & numerical data