Nurses working at patients’ home: mastering the space and time of a professional exercise (a french japanese survey in four regions: Picardie, Paca, Nagano and Fukushima).

Abstract

this article presents the main results of a survey comparing works and opinions of nurses working at their patients homes in France and in Japan. previous studies on hospital nurses had shown some differences mainly linked to the way the tensionbetween cure and care is managed in the two countries. the hypothesis is made according to which this tension involves nurses beyond their professional practices. At stake, are the characteristics of the two professional spaces and the mobility they made possible. an original questionnaire has been conducted gathering 200 nurses working at patient's home. Four Regions have been chosen (two in France, two in Japan) in order to take into account environmental differences. it appears that representations as well as the relations to the labor itself are heavily shaped by each nurse passed experience, the hospital setting being the main reference. However, the way this experience is included in the professional trajectory is mainly built by private choices. grounded on a qualitative study, these results have to be confirmed using a larger survey.