Abstract

Background
Anxiety is a future focused emotion associated with anticipatory hyper vigilance in the face of uncertainty (Meeton, Dash, Scarlet and Davey, 2012). . Once a poorly delineated construct confused with fear, anxiety is now distinguished neurologically, cognitively and behaviourally (Orsini , Kim, Knapska and Maren, 2011; Sylvers, Lilienfeld and LaPrairie, 2011;Sauerhofer, Pamplona, Bedenk, Moll, Dawirs, von Hörsten, Wotjak, and Golub, 2012).
Aims
This paper presents the findings of an enquiry into the dynamics of anxiety as part of nursing ontology. The study seeks to improve understanding of the value of anxiety to nursing practice.
Method
Thirty- three nurses across community, public health, paediatrics, mental health and acute adult surgery talked exhaustively in interview about their experiences of anxiety in their professional lives. The data was collected in a London teaching hospital trust and in three community NHS trusts in the East Midlands of England between November 2011 and August 2012. The interviews were audio- taped and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were analysed using Grounded Theory Method.
Results
Anxiety was not experienced as a single entity but as a series of subtypes on a continuum of response to varying degrees of uncertainty and levels of risk. Behaviour was governed by a ‘what if’ state of understanding: raised awareness, concern, high anxiety and panic. Anxiety also showed some temporal variation at odds with the extant literature. Nurses valued anxiety as leverage for exercising accountability.
Discussion
The findings show anxiety to be a valuable component in the armoury of nursing judgement
Conclusion
Anxiety has potential as a reflection point through which to articulate uncertainty and lend shape to the nebulous. The place of anxiety as part of a new framework for clinical judgement is justified.