Professional carers' struggle to be confirmed. Narratives within the care of the elderly and disabled

Twenty-seven members of staff working in special types of housing in Sweden narrated 95 narratives about their experience of being in problematic situations during the working day. The narratives were interpreted using a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach inspired by the philosophy of Ricoeur. The narratives mainly concerned interactions with colleagues and very few narratives concerned interactions with residents and relatives. On the relationship level of communication there is evidence that many interactions among the staff, residents and relatives were of a receptive and disconfirming nature. The results indicate that the staff feel lonely, and struggled to maintain self-esteem and to be confirmed.