Nurturing anaesthetic expertise

On narrative, affect and professional inclusivity

Authors

  • Rick Iedema King’s College London
  • Christine Jorm University of Newcastle

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/cam.32897

Keywords:

narrative, professional expertise, affect, collective competence, professional inclusivity

Abstract

This article seeks to establish the educational and social significance of narrative and affect in anaesthetic training. Data were obtained from focus group discussions involving three groups of eight (total 24) young anaesthetists from around Australia held at an Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) residential conference. Analysis applied to transcripts of the discussions revealed the prominence of narratives used among trainees and supervisors as a medium for explaining and nurturing anaesthetic expertise. Nurturing expertise was accomplished by sharing narratives about extreme circumstances that highlighted a need for constant vigilance directed towards not just clinical circumstances but also colleagues. The article suggests that the narrative emphasis on remaining vigilant and maintaining personal resourcefulness may explain graduands' tendency towards social exclusivity (avoidance of non-colleague others), and contribute to a better understanding of medicine's professional inclusivity (strong in-group bonding).

Author Biographies

  • Rick Iedema, King’s College London

    Rick Iedema PhD, FASSA, is Professor and Director of the Centre for Team-based Practice & Learning in Health Care at King’s College London. His main research interests are inter-professional team-based practice and ‘distributed competence’ among clinicians, and patient involvement in improvement. His most recent publications include Visualising Health Care Improvement (2013, Taylor & Francis), Communicating Quality and Safety in Health Care (2015, Cambridge University Press), and Video Reflexive Ethnography in Health Research and Healthcare Improvement (2019, Taylor & Francis).

  • Christine Jorm, University of Newcastle

    Christine Jorm MBBS(Hons) MD PhD FANZCA GAICD, is Professor in the School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Australia. She is the Director of NSW Regional Health Partners, an NHMRC accredited centre for translational research. Her most recent book is Reconstructing Medical Practice: Engagement, Professionalism and Critical Relationships in Health Care (2012, Gower Publishing Ltd).

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Published

2019-07-03

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Iedema, R., & Jorm, C. (2019). Nurturing anaesthetic expertise: On narrative, affect and professional inclusivity. Communication and Medicine, 15(1), 53-64. https://doi.org/10.1558/cam.32897