What is known:

Burnout is a prominent part of the emergency nursing conversation.

The Model of Thriving at Work reflects some nurses’ experiences of work.

What this study adds:

Critical care nurses report thriving, but describe it as being ‘not burnt out’.

Thriving is related to both personal and organizational factors, which can be supported by nurse leaders.

Burnout is a well-known issue among nurses in critical care settings, including emergency nurses. There are decades of research indicating that emergency nurses experience burnout in their work. However, many nurses have long careers in emergency settings, which suggests that burnout is not the only outcome for nurses. Thriving may also be part of nurses’ experiences. The Model of Thriving at Work includes external factors (autonomy, climate of trust and respect, and information sharing) and internal factors (knowledge, personal outlook, and relationships). Thriving is characterized by the concepts of vitality and ongoing learning. Previous researchers suggest that thriving fits with some nurses’ experiences, based on validated questionnaires. However, thriving has not been investigated among nurses using interview approaches.

This article explores nurses’ experiences of thriving and assesses the fit of Spreitzer et al.’s Model of Thriving at Work with nurses’ experiences.

Qualitative interview study, using framework analysis.

Eleven nurses, from a single site, completed semi-structured interviews. These interviews explored nurses’ workplace experiences, both positive and negative.

Participants reported experiences that fit with the Model of Thriving at Work, consisting of vitality, ongoing learning, and external and internal factors. Nurses hesitated to describe themselves in positive ways, referring instead to being ‘not burnt out’. Nurses could, however, readily identify qualities of thriving in others, and viewed those nurses as aspirational. In addition to the Model, participants highlighted their emotional burden, workload, and ethical issues as important contributors to thriving. The Model could potentially be expanded to include these factors.

Thriving at work could be part of a range of emergency nurses’ workplace outcomes. External and internal factors contribute to thriving. Healthcare leaders could support thriving among emergency nurses by fostering a positive work environment.

Emergency nursing

Thriving

Burnout

Interview

Framework analysis

Qualitative research

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