Othering in the nursing context: A concept analysis

AIM 'Othering' is described as a social process whereby a dominant group or person uses negative attributes to define and subordinate others. Literature suggests othering creates exclusive relationships and puts patients at risk for suboptimal care. A concept analysis delineating the properties of othering was conducted to develop knowledge to support inclusionary practices in nursing. DESIGN Rodgers' Evolutionary Method for concept analysis guided this study. METHODS The following databases were searched spanning the years 1999-2015: CINAHL, PUBMED, PsychINFO and Google. Search terms included "othering", "nurse", "other", "exclusion" and "patient". RESULTS Twenty-eight papers were analyzed whereby definitions, related concepts and othering attributes were identified. Findings support that othering in nursing is a sequential process with a trajectory aimed at marginalization and exclusion, which in turn has a negative impact on patient care and professional relationships. Implications are discussed in terms of deriving practical solutions to disrupt othering. We conclude with a conceptual foundation designed to support inclusionary strategies in nursing.