Caring connections – Compassionate mutuality in organizational life

Abstract

Organizational life is full of bigger and smaller situations in which one person offers some form of care for another. Although they can be significant for the well-being of both the careprovider and the carereceiver – and for the organizational atmosphere, these acts of caregiving have not received the research attention they would deserve. The aim of this article is to provide insight into the relational nature of these encounters through examining the everyday contacts between nurses and residents in a nursing home. Based on interviews and participant observation analyzed through grounded theory I argue that in caring situations both participants can choose to either be emotionally engaged or disengaged in the situation. This gives rise to four different types of caring situation: Instrumental caretaking, unmet call for caring, one-sided caregiving and caring connections. Focusing especially on the caring connections I argue that they are highly satisfactory for both participants and that in them the interpersonal dimension between the participants is flourishing. I see that they are composed of six elements: mutual validation, being present in the now-moment, opening up towards the other, establishing a shared space, heightened flow of affectivity, and acts of caregiving and displays of gratitude.