Gynaecological nursing: a compromising situation

Women's health has been a research concern since the growth of modern feminism, but few studies have examined the attitudes and opinions of nurses towards working with women patients. This exploratory study, using informal interviews with 30 gynaecology nurses, is a first attempt to fill this gap. The interviewees' attitudes and opinions revealed ambiguities and contradictions which led them both to identify with and distance themselves from their women patients and the doctors. It is suggested that gynaecological nurses occupy shifting positions in the status hierarchies of gender, nursing and medicine, and professional specialization. The way they define their role results from attempts to improve their status vis-à-vis others in these hierarchies, and to make compromises in order to evaluate their own status positively. Strategies are suggested for increasing their knowledge and skills based on the hypothesis that this would lead to greater clarity of role and job satisfaction, and a higher quality of patient care.