Support of the nurse.

AIM

A multidisciplinary concept analysis of support of the nurse.

BACKGROUND

Nurses provide support on a daily basis to their patients and this aspect of support has been well established in current literature, yet support of the nurse rather than from the nurse is not readily established in recent research. The gaps in the analysis of support of nurses are addressed from a multidisciplinary approach.

METHODS

Using the Walker and Avant's method, a concept analysis of support of the nurse was conducted. Electronic databases (CINAHL, MedLine, and PyscINFO) were searched using the terms support, concept analysis, and nurse. Of the 27 articles found in the search, only seven articles met the inclusion criterion of nurse as primary subject matter.

RESULTS

The three defining attributes of support are a safe environment, connection, and communication. Antecedents of support include accessibility and information. Consequences of support are relationships formed and empowerment. The empirical referent highlighted in current literature is the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support.

CONCLUSION

While the support that nurses provide to patients has been studied for years, there is a lack of studies addressing the concept of support of nurses. Future research could fill this gap by investigating support of nurses in holistic ways, such as qualitative or mixed-method analysis. Support is not always accessible in a face to face format, so mobile and web options are presented as possible interventional opportunities to meet nurses at the bedside.