This paper report implicit meanings of nursing ritual that take places during change-of-shift report at an university hospital in Seoul. Employing participation observation and analysis of recording of reports, the authors confirm that besides its rou...
This paper report implicit meanings of nursing ritual that take places during change-of-shift report at an university hospital in Seoul. Employing participation observation and analysis of recording of reports, the authors confirm that besides its routine nature the occupational ritual includes symbolic actions that facilitate the transmission of the beliefs, rules of conduct and customs. It is also found that the nursing ritual fulfills an important although highly visible functioning in the nursing unit of the hospital, helping nurses to carry out caring activities for patients. The unique features of change-of-shift report investigated show the status problems that nursing profession has encountered in the hospital by implying its significance to every day social interaction.