The Story of Caring Theorist Sister M. Simone Roach
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University of Alberta Two Roads Diverged in a Wood: The Story of Caring Theorist Sister M. Simone Roach by Margaret Elizabeth Myers A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Faculty of Nursing © Margaret Elizabeth Myers Fall 2013 Edmonton, Alberta Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission. Dedicated to Sister Marie Simone Roach, PhD., CSM The world in which we live is crying out for compassion, meaning, tenderness and love. This "call to consciousness," then, is a call to get in touch with this world, particularly with its woundeds; to acknowledge the dissolution of part of its life and history; and to gain hope for the great possibilities for change. M.S. Roach. 'The Call to Consciousness: Compassion in Today's Health World, National League for Nursing Publication, May, 19911 1 (M. S. Roach, The Call to Consciousness: Compassion in Today's Health World 1991, 7) ABSTRACT TWO ROADS DIVERGED IN A WOOD: THE STORY OF CARING THEORIST SISTER M. SIMONE ROACH. Doctor of Philosophy 2013, Margaret Elizabeth Myers, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta. This study introduces the reader to Canadian nursing theorist, Sister Marie Simone Roach. It begins with Sister Roach as the child Eileen, in her large Cape Breton Roman Catholic family and Gaelic culture. It continues with Eileen, the daughter, the sister, and the student as she finishes school and is attracted by the reputation of St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing in Glace Bay, and by the vision of the school leaders, the Sisters of Saint Martha. It continues as she enters the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Martha one year after graduating from nursing school, to become Sister Roach. To a larger extent, this study focuses on Sister Roach's professional life, and the events surrounding the development of her theory, The Human Act of Caring. It focuses on her work as a nursing educator, her role in the development of the first Code of Ethics for Nurses in Canada, and other significant sociological, geographical, religious, nursing/medical, and world events that became a context in which she lived and worked, and conceptualized and articulated her theory nationally and internationally. It attempts to clarify how Sister Roach's nursing theory became so well known in the United States while it was largely overlooked in Canada over the more than two decades that caring theory was introduced and furthered in the nursing profession. To compose this document, Sister Roach was interviewed extensively, and her fonds were accessed at the Archives of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Martha, containing all of her achieved writings dating back to the 1950s. Nineteen interviews were conducted with individuals, including past students, mentees, people she had worked with, a family member, and even one member of her nursing graduation class. Documents were accessed from archives, libraries, newspapers, journals, websites, and nursing organizations. Of special interest is the depth to which her theory has been developed, and how she has brought together aspects of relational ethics, spirituality, and components of caring to inform nursing practice, education and research, and the sheer value of this theory to present and future nurses. Coming to understand the complexity of her work, and her commitment to humanity helped to shed light on aspects of Sister Roach as a person. Likewise, learning of her background, the values to which her family and community subscribed, and the significant influences to which she was exposed, helps to understand Sister Roach the professional. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS What a fortunate life I have led! I never cease to be amazed at the sheer number of horizons that have presented themselves to me, and the opportunities I have had to reach and see beyond these horizons. Strictly speaking, I was not looking for a new horizon in the winter months of 2009; far from it, I was more focused on completing my program, a milestone in itself! I already had a piece of research in mind; one that would meet program requirements, but not utterly consume me. And then, along came NURS 684! When I signed up for the nursing history course, NURS 684, I had no idea I would resonate with the material so strongly. I had no idea that nursing history, especially biography, would become another horizon that loomed in the distance for me, and would occupy many of my waking moments for the next four years. Reaching that horizon, and realizing the finished product − a biography of Sister Marie Simone Roach, has only been possible because of the efforts of many people. I have merely been the instrument that collected and analyzed what others, in one way or another, provided for me. First and foremost, I want to say thank you to Sister Roach. Sister, from the very beginning, you have been willing, gentle, patient, and so very informative! I am grateful for your agreement to take part in this study, for allowing me to access your fonds at the Bethany Motherhouse Archives, and for your gracious hospitality when I travelled to Antigonish. I am grateful for each and every one of the numerous contacts we have had over the years. I also want to express my gratitude to the Sisters of Saint Martha for their gracious hospitality. Bethany is a home in which the stranger is made to feel welcome in both action and word. In addition, I am thankful to all those who agreed to be interviewed for this biography of Sister Roach. Every one of you gave freely of your time and helped in presenting "one more glimpse of Sister Roach." I would not have ventured on such a sizable and challenging journey without the commitment, support, and guidance of my two co−supervisors, Dr. Pauline Paul and Dr. Joanne Olson. Without Dr. Paul, as she was the professor in the fated course (NURS 684) that introduced me to nursing history, my consciousness would not have been raised, so writing this biography would not have been a consideration! Dr. Paul, you held open a window for me, and through it I could see another horizon. And here I am, four years later! Most days, I have considered this a gift, and I am grateful to you for this gift! Because the subject of my biography is a religious sister and a caring theorist, Dr. Joanne Olson has been an essential part of this process. I sought her as a supervisor because I have been familiar with her work in caring and spirituality since the mid 1990s. Dr. Olson and Dr. Paul, your combined expertise has been essential in helping shape this study and guide this process. You have both always been available for structured and unstructured feedback, and you have both provided grounding, insight, and encouragement. Meetings with you, often when my own confidence was lagging, were always followed by an increase in my momentum. I would also like to express my gratitude to the other members of my candidacy examination committee: Dr. Catherine Caufield, Dr. Judith (Jude) Spiers; and Dr. Derek Sellman. Thank you for reading my proposal and providing specific, valuable feedback. So many people have helped, and while I am hesitant to name people, for fear of leaving someone out, two people deserve special mention: Lorraine Mychajlunow, Archivist at the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta, and Sister Florence Kennedy, Archivist at the Bethany Motherhouse, the Sisters of Saint Martha in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. To my life partner, my boon companion, husband and friend, still I say to you "no greater friend do I know in this life". I'm leaving the "Roach Room" pretty soon now, and I'm coming home. For all that you do, and say, and even don't say, I say, Tapadh Leat! A h−uile la sona dhuibh's gun la idir dona dhuibh! Table of Contents Chapter I: Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 Study Purpose ............................................................................................... 3 Significance of the Study .............................................................................. 7 Research Questions ....................................................................................... 7 Summary ....................................................................................................... 8 Chapter II: Literature Review ................................................................................ 9 Introduction to the Literature Review ........................................................... 9 Biography/Life History ................................................................................. 9 Significance of Nursing Biographies/Life Histories ....................................12 Biographies and History of Nursing in Canada .......................................... 15 Biography of Edith Kathleen Russell ...............................................