Graduation Term

2021

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

School of Communication

Committee Chair

Aimee Miller-Ott

Abstract

Nurses play a central part of healthcare in modern Western medicine, often taking on various roles and acting as liaisons in a multitude of situations. Especially in regard to the most recent global health crisis, COVID-19, more attention has been paid to the ways in which nurses handle the stress of the job. With the establishment of Cutrona and Suhr’s (1994) five categories of social support and Lazarus and Folkman’s (1987) Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, research has been able to address the role of social support in the coping process; however, little attention has been paid to the ways in which nurses manage privacy and disclosure with their family members to garner support and cope. This study aimed to better understand how nurses navigate privacy and disclosure regarding their work-related experiences with family members to receive social support and cope. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants who were currently practicing registered nurses. Through analysis, responses were categorized utilizing Cutrona and Suhr’s (1994) categories of social support and Lazarus and Folkman’s (1987) Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. In addition, Petronio’s (2002) Communication Privacy Management (CPM) theory was used as a framework to highlight the parts of the theory that were most salient in the privacy management behaviors among participants and their family members. Participants demonstrated several social support and coping strategies. Additionally, many nurse-specific privacy management themes emerged, demonstrating the benefit of exploring the experiences of nurses and their families through the lens of CPM. Implications of the study, limitations, and future research are then discussed.

Access Type

Thesis-Open Access

DOI

https://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2021.20211012065807311961.999947

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