| Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools. |
Shared Vulnerability: A Theory of Caring for Children With Persistent Head LiceShirley C. Gordon, RN, PhD, is an associate professor at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, Port St. Lucie, FL Head lice infestation is a worldwide phenomenon that affects persons of all ages. For reasons that are not entirely clear, a number of children experience persistent head lice infestations lasting weeks, months, or years. Little is known about the impact of caring for children with persistent head lice on parents/caregivers. The purpose of this grounded theory study is to explore how parents and caregivers manage caring for children with persistent head lice. Data were obtained through participant observation and in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 20 parents/caregivers of school-age children with persistent head lice. The researcher identified a 4-stage process of shared vulnerability used by parents/caregivers to manage caregiver strain associated with caring for children with persistent head lice. The four stages included (a) being ostracized, (b) losing integrity of the self, (c) struggling with persistence, and (d) managing strain.
Key Words: caregiver strain grounded theory persistent head lice shared vulnerability stigma
The Journal of School Nursing, Vol. 23, No. 5,
283-292 (2007) |
|
|||

