Aim: The purpose is to explore the concept of connect in multiple disciplines for further development of knowledge and theories in nursing and to establish a clear understanding of this construct.
Background: Connect has meanings rooted in the discipline of business, technology, and transportation which influence how the term is defined in nursing. Several definitions have been established that demonstrate the concepts of connect in other disciplines.
Design: A concept exploration design was used for the identification and explication of the term connect to describe, explain, and predict this interprofessional phenomenon.
Review methods: The databases CINAHL, MEDLINE, PRO-Quest, and EBSCO were searched for articles through title and abstract screening using connect, connectedness, and connectivity.
Results: Three specific components were identified in the exploration: (a) respect, (b) trust, and (c) mutuality. Current literature validated the need for an empirical concept analysis.
Conclusions: This concept exploration provides the first step in understanding the context and meaning of connect in nursing profession. By determining if connections exist and quantifying the level of connections, a level of congruency between the nurse and the patient can be established to determine the best plan of care and goals. An empirical measure of connect will benefit nursing and other disciplines.
Keywords: Connect; connection; exploration; relationship.
© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.