Qualitative Critique

Qualitative Critique of “The Ethics of Presence When Bathing Patients in a Nursing Home”

Introduction

This is an academic critique of a qualitative article published in 2012, by Maj-Britt Raholm, RN, MNsc, PhD. In the article, “The ethics of presence when bathing patients in a nursing home”, the researcher intends to create a more profound understanding of the ethics of presence from the nurse’s perspective (Raholm, 2012, p. 30). The study will be analyzed for the credibility, conformability, and dependability to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the article. Based on the analysis a recommendation for evidence-based practice will be advised or rejected.

Research Tradition

Phenomenological approaches with both descriptive (phenomenological)

32). This information is broken down into the steps the author took to analyze the communication generated from the participants and situated into useful data. Raholm (2012) uses Odman’s hermeneutic process to analyze the data (p. 32). From this analysis three themes emerged. The first two themes established “the ethics of presence as being with the other” and “the ethics of presence as being for the other” are both logical and comprehensive in their description (p. 32). The comments from the participants are cohesive with the interpretation of the author. The third theme “the ethics of presence as encountering the fundamental call of the face” is confusing and not cohesive. This will be discussed in the next paragraph. There was no evidence noted to support the accuracy or of the study. The researcher conducting the study also functioned as the moderator and led the focus group discussions (p. 31). The method used leaves room for the researcher’s own bias to skew the discussion and results if measures are not taken to counter any bias. The article provides sufficient information to reproduce the study. The conclusions drawn by the researcher are verifiable. As the data provide direct quotes from the participants, allowing interpretation from the reader in addition to the

The reader is given a clear mental picture of the atmosphere and the exchanges with the patient. As in this quote by a nurse “The most important [thing] in the relationship with the patients is that they feel that someone sees them… that there is a focus on the individual” (Raholm, 2012, p. 31). This quote captures the essence of what it means to “be present” with another person. The nursing participants’ internal thoughts are also pronounced, which shows the enlightenment they experience through their experience of being present. Such as the quote “I feel that I actually want to be there with the patient while other tasks constantly are assigned to me… this worries me” (p. 32). The nurse as well as the patient has an altered experience due to being present. There is a profound difference presented in the social and emotional interchange when care is given through “being present” versus, going through the motions or in a state of professionalism. The ethics involved can be inferred, however; the author does not describe the actual ethics involved directly. Raholm could have asked the nurses questions about their ethics regarding the act of being present eliciting more applicable