6Cs and ten commitments: nurses’ understanding and use of courage

Aim This article reports the initial findings of a study that explored nurses’ understanding of courage, in the context of the 6Cs and the Leading Change, Adding Value framework. The aim was to explore how nurses’ understanding of courage can inform future practice, thus enabling preparation and support for nurses’ use of courage in practice settings, and to enhance understanding of their use of it in everyday professional practice.

Method The study used unstructured interviews in a grounded-theory approach, in which a theory is constructed by analysing data, underpinned with epistemology of social constructionism, a theory that examines shared assumptions about reality. Twelve qualified nurses were interviewed in depth about their understanding of courage in professional practice. A literature review was also undertaken.

Results Nurses discussed their understanding of courage in terms of being in a situation they do not want to be in, speaking up and taking risks.

Conclusion Understanding nurses’ view of courage and its influence on practice can inform future recruitment and retention policies and practice, thus preparing and supporting nurses in the use of courage in practice settings.