Affiliations: School of Health and Medical Sciences, Public Health
Science, Örebro University, Sweden | Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and
Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University, Sweden | Institute of Health and Care Sciences, The Sahlgrenska
Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden | School of Life Sciences, University of Skövde,
Sweden
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Hélène Sandmark,
Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine,
Uppsala University, Akademiska sjukhuset, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. Tel.: +46
18 6113659; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Few studies to date have investigated retained work ability. The aim
of this explorative study was to describe female assistant nurses' experiences
of high work attendance over the years The setting is a municipality in
mid-Sweden that employs 466 female assistant nurses permanently within
municipal elderly care. A qualitative methodology was chosen and thematic,
open-ended, interviews were carried out with 12 female assistant nurses. The
interviewees were selected from the 117 women who had taken the least amount of
sick leave over the past five years, which meant no sick leave at all or no
more than 5 days. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and thereafter a
content analysis was carried out. Three main themes connected with the aim of
the study emerged from the interviews: "a desirable job, despite low status",
"supportive social networks", and "coping ability". In order to strengthen
work ability among female employees in elderly care, the findings indicate that
it is crucial to support mobility in working life, and to promote social
support and networks at the workplace and in private life, as well as a
coping-oriented approach to health issues and social life.
Keywords: Women and coping, competence, desirable work, public sector, strong work team, retained work ability
