TITLE:
Nurses’ Role and Experiences as Group-Leaders in a Group Intervention for Women after Gynecological Cancer
AUTHORS:
Ragnhild Johanne Tveit Sekse, Margrethe Elin Vika
KEYWORDS:
Gynecological Cancer, Nurses’ Experiences, Nurse-Led Intervention, Rehabilitation
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nursing,
Vol.6 No.3,
March
24,
2016
ABSTRACT: Aim: The aim of this study is to provide insight into nurses’ role and their experiences of leading an education and counselling group intervention for women after gynecological cancer. Methods: A qualitative study, based on focus group interview and logs from nurses who led the intervention, was conducted. Findings: The group leaders were touched by the women’s community and were given a deeper understanding of lived experiences after cancer. These insights raised the group-leaders’ understanding of nursing and influenced them to sharpen focus on patient care and priorities in cancer care and follow-up. Being a group-leader meant creating a trusting and secure atmosphere in which the individual woman’s own coping resources was strengthened and empowered. Equally important, the nurses worked continuously and substantially on themselves to build strength and endurance related to situations that called for competent leadership. Conclusion: Being competent in group leadership and having knowledge in the field of cancer are important qualifications for group leaders. Practice Implications: The study shows that nurses gain valuable insight and knowledge about women’s lived experiences of going through gynecological cancer, cancer treatment and rehabilitation. As such, this intervention seems to be educational for nurses, as well as for participants.