A Narrative Inquiry into Professional Quality of Life among Therapeutic Recreation Practitioners working in Long-Term Care Homes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18666/TRJ-2024-V58-I1-11438Keywords:
Professional quality of life, therapeutic recreation/recreation therapy, long-term care, narrative inquiry, professional practice issuesAbstract
Professional Quality of Life (ProQoL) incorporates positive (e.g., compassion satisfaction) and negative (e.g., compassion fatigue and burnout) aspects of working in healthcare (Stamm, 2010). Although studies have examined ProQoL of frontline staff in long-term care (LTC) homes, the perspective of therapeutic recreation (TR) professionals is largely missing. To address this gap, this paper explores ProQoL with four TR practitioners who work in LTC homes in Ontario, Canada. Participants were invited to explore past and present experiences that contribute to ProQoL in individual interviews and write two personal narratives that embody compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue. Narrative thematic analysis revealed 3 threads of PQoL among practitioners: fueling the soul through connection and purpose, draining the TR spirit through workplace conflict and role ambiguity, and developing professional valour. Findings suggest that although practitioners derive great fulfilment from their career, workplace culture and conflict are chronic challenges that erode the PQoL of practitioners. Recommendations for future research and practice are offered.
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