Taking experiences of disrespectful misrecognition in blended workgroups seriously

ABSTRACT

This article explores how experienced relational quality in blended workgroups consisting of permanent and temporary members is affected by temporary members’ normative expectations for the relationship. We draw on Axel Honneth’s four primary forms of recognition to illuminate the foundation of normative expectations. This focus on temporary members’ normative expectations contrasts with existing research in blended workgroups, focusing predominantly on the behavior of permanent members towards temporary ones. We draw on illustrative examples from a qualitative study of first – and third-year nursing students’ experiences during their internships at somatic hospitals. First – and third-year students report how they experience a deviation from their normative expectations as a threat to their positive self-image. In conclusion, we propose that the normative expectations characterizing the relationship between nursing students and permanent nurses can be described based on three forms of recognition:’ visibility,’ ‘respect,’ and ‘esteem.’

KEYWORDS:

• Collegial relationships
• recognition theory
• blended workgroups
• invisibility
• nursing students
• relational quality

Acknowledgments

The authors want to thank the participants for their time and commitment. Likewise, they also want to thank the editor and the reviewers for their helpful feedback.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).