Registered nurses' perspectives on how patients with multi-drug resistant organisms experience isolation

Background: The isolation of people with transmissible diseases have been known from ancient times. While this topic has been explored from the patients' lived experiences; there is a lack of studies conducted from other viewpoints particularly that of the nurses who provide care to these patients in a 24-hour-period each day. This study explored the experience of source isolation in patients infected with multi-drug resistant organisms, from the nurses' perspectives. Methods: The Heideggerian (Heidegger, 1962) philosophical ideas formed the overarching framework in which this study was undertaken. Sixteen Registered Nurses were recruited from two New South Wales major hospitals with whom in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted. Using Braun and Clarke's (2006) tool for the analysis of their data; van Manen's (1990) lifeworld existentials mainly provided a guide for the reflection. Results: Four main themes which emerged from the analysis and interpretation of data are Changed relationships; A controlled space; Fear of infection; and Demanding single rooms - craving for privacy. Conclusion: The key understandings drawn from the results were that most of the participants described the patients' experiences of their source isolation as unfavourable. This had resulted in these patients feeling excessively controlled and not given enough opportunities to interact with other people within or outside their space; except for a few who wanted privacy. They also reported how other patients held great fear that their infection might have dire consequences on themselves or other people if they became infected.