Welcome intrusions: An interpretive phenomenological study of TB nurses’ relational work

Abstract

Background Nurse–client relationships are valued in descriptions of public health practice and require consideration as work involving knowledge, skill, and personal engagement. Even so, in public health, they are largely taken-for-granted, particularly in the area of tuberculosis (TB). Instead, TB nursing is often structured by a population focus, which at times challenges individually focused relationship ideals. Purpose and design This paper describes an interpretive phenomenological study which was undertaken to understand the nature of TB nurses’ relational work. Methods Data were collected over an eight month period through observations of usual nurse–client visits and semi-structured interviews. Setting and participants The study took place in the TB program of a public health department of a large multicultural Canadian city with nine nurses and 24 clients. Results The phrase ‘welcome intrusions’ represents the nature of relational work and along with three key themes, ‘getting through the door’, ‘doing TB but more than that’, and ‘beyond a professional’, speaks to the central tension in this relational work: balancing its dual surveillance-care focus. Conclusions Together these themes emphasize the importance of nurses’ skill of involvement in two key domains of TB nursing practice: providing comfort and being watchful.