The meaning of change to individuals within a college of nurse education

Abstract

Change is an inevitability in all aspects of our lives today, with the prospect of an exponentially increasing rate of change. This study attempts to provide a clearer understanding of the meaning of change to the individual within a college of nurse education. The thoughts and feelings of individuals towards change are often subjective and contradictory in nature. A cultural perspective using a phenomenological approach was therefore adopted. Using the attributes of a 'new paradigm research' enabled a harmony to be achieved between the methodology and the paradoxical elements of change and the individual. The study identified that good change is dependent upon a partnership between manager and managed or teacher and student. It became evident that a true partnership based on open, supportive and trusting relationships was deficient in some areas. Three themes concerning the individual and change evolved as being important: (a) a perception of the individual's need to be self-empowering, self-helping, self-caring, self-motivating; (b) the need for the individual to be resilient to change and reflective in practice; and (c) a perception of change as a learning experience.