Analyzing Contents of Emotional Labor Dimensions among Exemplar Iranian Nurses

Introduction: Since nursing profession is deeply rooted in the concept of emotions, and emotions management in order to express the expected emotion demonstration has got high importance, conducting descriptive researches in different fields of exploring latent aspects of the relevant field are deemed essential. Therefore, the main objective of the current research was to explore contents of emotional labor dimensions among exemplary nurses in public hospitals of Mashhad City, Iran. Method: This was a descriptive research drawing upon the strategy of phenomenology. Semi-structured deep interviews were used to collect the data. In order to analyze collected data, Colaizzi approach was employed. The research population included all national exemplar nurses at public hospitals of Mashhad City. They were interviewed considering purposeful sampling and its adequacy. Results: For surface acting dimension, ۵ sub-categories in ۲ main themes of the emotional mask, and emotional deal, and for deep acting dimension, ۱۵ sub-categories in ۵ main themes of emotional withdrawal, emotional empathy, emotional arousal, emotional sharing, and emotional reflection were achieved. Conclusion: Findings of the current research provide valuable insight regarding emotional labor performed by national exemplar nurses in the population. Thus, a correct understanding of this concept as a valid source in constructing professional knowledge of nurses can be placed as the main part of nursing competency; through which the quality of patients’ care can be promoted and life quality can be improved as a result.

Keywords:

Emotions , Emotional labor , Surface acting , Deep acting