The process of emergency nurses' encounter with potential legal issues: A grounded theory study
Abstract
Aims: Considering the continuous rise in legal complaints against nurses, especially emergency nurses, they consider their work environment to be a threatening place, negatively affecting their professional care performance. This study aimed to explain the process of confrontation of emergency department nurses with potential legal issues. Methods: In this qualitative study data were collected from six observations and in-depth semi-structured interviews with 15 nurses and one emergency physician in the emergency departments. The participants were initially selected by purposeful sampling, followed by theoretical sampling. Data were finally analyzed based on Corbin and Strauss grounded theory approach (2008). Results: The core variable in this study was “perceived fear of litigation risk” and consisted of four categories: “avoidance of involvement in legal issues”, “cautious performance”, “double-checking”, and “acquitting oneself”. Emergency nurses face these issues after assessing the likelihood of legal problems, based on the severity of their perceived fears. This assessment is an ongoing and dynamic process, and increasing the likelihood of a legal issue occurring and thus increasing fear can lead to a change in the approach used or the simultaneous (cumulative) use of several approaches.
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