Preserving the self: women having cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the process that women undergo when having cardiac surgery.

DESIGN

A grounded theory approach was used to gain an understanding of the core process.

SETTING

A large community hospital with an active cardiovascular surgery practice and research center.

PARTICIPANTS

Ten women, between 21 and 79 years of age, who had undergone cardiac surgery in the last 3 months.

RESULTS

Behaviors in which the women were engaged when having cardiac surgery were directed toward "preserving the self" while getting through the surgical experience. This process had five phases: waiting, getting there, surviving, being there, and moving on. Strategies used by these women in preserving the self throughout the phases were: relating, making sense of, managing, and normalizing what was happening to them.

CONCLUSION

By having a clearer understanding of the process women undergo when having cardiac surgery, health care providers will be able to participate more effectively with women through their experience.