‘You Took me Back to the sea:’ Using Narrative to Explore and Inform the Practice of Social Work with Dying People

0Citations
Citations of this article
7Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

This article centres on a qualitative interview extract, the ‘Story of the Pebble’, in which a West African Hospital Social Worker Ado, working in a UK context, and identifying as a Shaman, describes successfully trusting his instincts to create a symbol for a dying patient. Despite criticisms from colleagues, Ado's capacity to understand his patients needs are justified both before and after her death. The article discusses significant themes from the interview extract, including the meaning of professionalism, practice wisdom and cultural influences in a UK social work context, as well as through Ado's heritage and identification as a Shaman. The article considers holistic patient care in a medical context and suggests this has some useful lessons for social workers, particularly those involved with dying people. Although the extract, and wider research study from which it is drawn, pre-date the Covid 19 pandemic, this is referenced throughout, linking the interview extract to ways of helping practitioners and educators to consider people holistically at end of life.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Turner, D. (2023). ‘You Took me Back to the sea:’ Using Narrative to Explore and Inform the Practice of Social Work with Dying People. Illness Crisis and Loss, 31(3), 576–591. https://doi.org/10.1177/10541373221105806

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free