ABSTRACT
The article starts by offering a definition of fake kindness focused on the dissociation between the behavioural components of kindness and the intent to sincerely pay some heed to the needs of others. Using the sociological theory of Pierre Bourdieu, this definition is then used to articulate how fake kindness can be conceptualized as a specific form of symbolic violence. Such a view allows explanations as to how and why the prevalence and effectiveness of fake kindness vary according to microsociological norms and values. The generic definition and conceptualization of fake kindness as a form of symbolic violence are then used to discuss how nursing's enthrallment with the concept of caring and its operationalization as a moral compass likely fosters the growth of fake kindness within the profession. In this view, the institutional enforcement of propriety and well-behaved professionalism is more likely to lead to toxic environments than to healthy workplaces. We hope that being able to understand how professional norms and institutional rules are sometimes turned into social tools to enforce obedience and existing hierarchies can empower victims of those phenomena to resist them more effectively. It might also contribute to increasing the awareness of well-meaning nurses or people in position of authority who have been socialized in environments where fake kindness is normalized.
ABSTRACT
Based around an interview with nurse-turned-mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa, the authors present a teaching case study of nurses' political agency. The experience of Mayor Katahwa within nursing and in politics allows the authors to bridge systemic issues with lived experience. The article offers unique insights into political agency and how it can be developed in nurses.
Subject(s)
Biology , Politics , HumansABSTRACT
A Knapsack Full of Dreams: Memoirs of a Street Nurse, published by FriesenPress in 2019, is an engaging nursing read. The author, Cathy Crowe, is well known for her activism against homelessness and has received many commendations and awards for her work, along with five different honorary doctorates from various Canadian universities. This autobiography offers a critical historical perspective on the evolution of Canadian healthcare from the 1970s until today.
Subject(s)
Nursing Care/methods , Political Activism , Attitude to Health , History, 20th Century , Ill-Housed Persons/psychology , Humans , Nurse-Patient Relations , Nursing Care/psychology , Nursing Care/standards , Policy MakingABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this integrative review was to appraise and synthesize the evidence for the design, implementation, and evaluation of peer mentorship programs for undergraduate nursing students and to provide recommendations for future undergraduate nursing peer mentorship programs. METHOD: Using an integrative review methodology, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies were searched using six electronic databases. Studies were screened, assessed for eligibility, and appraised with critical appraisal tools. Data were extracted and synthesized using thematic analysis. Eleven studies were included in the integrative review. RESULTS: Appraisal demonstrated overall poor methodology. All programs were designed based on a perceived need expressed by faculty and students and involved a multistep process of implementation. Positive outcomes for nursing students were found through the use of peer mentorship programs; however, various challenges to program success were identified. CONCLUSION: This review provides evidence that can be used to inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of future peer mentorship programs.