Self-realisation-What does this mean for school nurses to remain in nursing practice?

Aims And Objectives: To describe and interpret what it means for school nurses to realise themselves so that they remain in nursing practice.

Background: Self-realisation seems to influence on nurses remaining in nursing practice. School nurses report aspects (i.e. autonomy and professional development) which can be linked to self-realisation as important for themselves, but few studies describe what it means for school nurses to realise themselves so that they remain in practice.

Design And Method: This study used a qualitative design, conducting two individual in-depth interviews with 15 school nurses. The interviews were analysed with a phenomenological hermeneutic method. The COREQ checklist has been used in reporting this study.

Results: The following themes were emerged: (a) being attentive to yourself, (b) acting true to yourself and (c) making independent choices.

Conclusion: This study offers insight into what it means for school nurses to realise themselves so that they remain in nursing practice, that is to practise their originality and take a stand for what they consider important. Self-realisation was embedded within nursing practice and consequently seems to impact on nurses remaining in practice.

Relevance To Clinical Practice: Nurses who practise their originality and take a stand for what they identify as important realise self. This implies being themselves and practising nursing in a way they find relevant. Nursing leaders who encourage nurses to articulate what this entails facilitate their self-realisation. A clinical practice where nurses can be attentive and act true to themselves, and have opportunities to make independent choices, will be a practice where nurses can realise self. We suggest that clinical practice which emphasises opportunities for nurses' self-realisation may facilitate their remaining in practice.