Nurses' Perspectives on Radiation: Drawing Expressions

Abstract

Objective: Nurses constitute an important part of health care workers and can be exposed to more radiation in their work areas. The purpose of this study was to determine the nurses' perspectives on radiation. Material and Methods: Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used together in the study. The sample group consisted of 109 nurses (83 females, 26 males) working in different departments of Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital. Purposeful sampling method was used in the study. The questionnaire was prepared by the researcher and applied between June 2018-August 2018. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 nurses to get more detailed information from the nurses. The drawings were divided into thematic categories and analyzed. The data obtained from the study were analyzed with SPSS 21.0 package program by using number, percentage, means, standard deviation, min-max, chi-square methods. In the analysis of the interviews, descriptive analysis method was used by using direct quotations. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between demographic characteristic of the nurses and their drawing (p>0.05). Since radiation is an abstract concept, it is observed that nurses have difficulty in radiation drawings. The nurses mostly drew a radiation warning sign, a symbol of death's head, wave, mobile phone, and roentgen or tomography machines. In interviews, it was determined that nurses looked at radiation with fear. Conclusion: The majority of nurses see radiation as terrible and lethal. Therefore, education programs can be organized to nurses for looking at radiation from the right perspective.