Prospectus 1 Honors Research Prospectus: An Investigation into the Locus of Control concerning Hispanic Women in the Health Care Setting

I will conduct an investigation into the locus of control concerning Hispanic women in relation to the health care setting. The purpose of this project is to gain a more comprehensive understanding of what it is like to be a Hispanic woman in the health care setting. A focus will be on the locus of control and the cultural implications surrounding this issue. Conducted through primarily the qualitative method, this study will consist of a specific series of open-ended questions. I chose this method because the open-ended questions will allow the women the freedom to share their personal experiences. The personal interviews will be recorded with a tape recorder. The recorded conversations will be secured and the interviewees will not be able to be identified via personal information. This is the most effective and efficient manner to collect the kind of data I will investigate. The collection and analysis of these data will be beneficial to those seeking to understand more about women in the Hispanic culture within the field of nursing. Holistic nursing depends on the treatment and healing of the physiological, psychological, sociocultural, developmental, and spiritual aspects of a person. If utilized correctly, an increased understanding of the Hispanic culture within health care can treat multiple variables. The locus of control is unique for each individual. Within the Hispanic culture, the power within the locus of control stereotypically resides with those of the male gender. Within nursing, it is my hope that the results of this study will have the potential to guide nurses in more effective and efficient ways to holistically treat Hispanic women concerning their individual loci of control.