Nursing the ‘Troubles’: an oral history of the emotional labour within acute nursing in Belfast during the ‘Troubles.’

The concept of emotional labour offers a useful way of capturing some of these effects. This research is based on in-depth qualitative interviews with acute nurses that worked in principal hospitals in Belfast and beyond.

This PhD focusses on some key aspects of emotional labour within nursing with particular attention paid to the conflict between work and home life and the presence of occupational culture. This study includes three integral data chapters which highlight emotional management, coping mechanisms and burnout associated with nursing through Northern Ireland’s civil conflict. This PhD comes at a time when the ‘Troubles’ remains a popular topic of interest to the public, whether that be through books, documentaries, films, or local exhibits.