Date
9-17-2026
Department
School of Nursing
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)
Chair
Rachel Joseph
Keywords
benign hematology, diffusion of innovation, gene therapy, lived experiences, nurse
Disciplines
Nursing
Recommended Citation
Jaworski, Kristen Michelle, "Discovering the Lived Experiences of Nurses in Gene Therapy Practice: A Phenomenological Inquiry" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8915.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8915
Abstract
The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to discover the lived experiences of nurses engaged in gene therapy practice. The central research question guiding this inquiry was: What are the lived experiences of nurses involved in gene therapy practice in benign hematology in the United States? The theoretical framework guiding this study was Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory, as it provided a lens for examining how nurses encounter, interpret, adopt, and integrate complex therapeutic innovations into clinical practice within specific social systems and over time. A purposive sample of 11 nurses with direct experience in gene therapy participated in virtual, semi-structured interviews. Additional data sources included participant reflective responses and document analysis of publicly available educational and clinical resources identified by participants. Data were analyzed using hermeneutic thematic interpretation through iterative reading, selective highlighting, reflective writing, and thematic development while maintaining researcher reflexivity. Five interrelated themes emerged, revealing that nurses experience gene therapy implementation as a process of extensive preparation, clinical and operational orchestration, relational learning, professional transformation, and ethical stewardship. The findings demonstrate that nurses play a pivotal role in translating scientific innovation into safe, patient-centered clinical practice. The results extend current understanding of nursing preparedness and implementation through relational dimensions of gene therapy practice.
