The "responsible" activist: Balancing multiple constituencies in hospital social work.
Item
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Title
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The "responsible" activist: Balancing multiple constituencies in hospital social work.
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Identifier
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AAI9521264
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identifier
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9521264
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Creator
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Dobrof, Judith Faith.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Irwin Epstein
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Date
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1995
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Social Work
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Abstract
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In this changing health care environment, hospitals struggle to develop strategies to insure their survival. For professionals, providing quality patient care in this context can be extremely problematic. This dissertation describes the findings of a qualitative study of how hospital social workers juggle the multiple demands of their institutions while attempting to achieve changes which they believe are in the best interests of patients.;Using a grounded theory approach, this study explores three questions: (1) what is the experience of activist social workers who practice in hospitals? (2) How does the environment of hospital-based practice affect organizational change and advocacy efforts? (3) How does location in the hospital and social work department hierarchy affect activism? In order to explore these questions, in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 New York City hospital line social workers, supervisors and senior managers who were either self-identified or identified by others as activists. Data analysis was done with the assistance of the computer software program, The Ethnograph.;Findings indicate that social workers attempt to make changes in policies of the employing hospital while consciously maintaining a label of "responsible activist". In order to be viewed as "responsible", social workers use institutionalized, collaborative strategies. They balance the interests of multiple constituencies within the hospital setting, that is, the organization, social work department, colleagues, patients, among others, in their generally successful activist endeavors.;The hospital environment is characterized by those interviewed as both an enabler of and constraint on activism. At times, they separate and other times integrate activism and daily practice. In addition, an activist approach has been beneficial in relation to career advancement for most respondents while many also feel that their hierarchical position is advantageous to promoting change.;Implications of the study for social work administrators, educators and researchers are addressed.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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D.S.W.
