THE RESPONSIVE USE OF SELF IN COMMUNITY-HEALTH NURSING PRACTICE

This interpretive study examined the expertise that is often unrecogni zed in the everyday practice of community health nurses. Twenty-five n urses participated in the study and were asked to describe meaningful clinical situations during group and individual interviews. Field note s of observations of clinical situations and transcribed interviews we re analyzed as a text. A major finding of the study involved the nurse 's responsive use of self. Responsiveness to the other enabled the nur se to gain a situated understanding of clients' lives and to cultivate clients' strengths and connections to a responsive community.