Persaud, Malini2015-01-262015-01-262014-05-272015-01-26http://hdl.handle.net/10315/28189The creation of a restorative care unit (RCU) within an acute care environment caused a change in the nursing team relationships that impacted leadership and culture of the RCU. A focused ethnographic approach provided insight into the nursing team members’ (registered nurses [RNs], registered practical nurses [RPNs] and personal support workers [PSWs]) shared experiences, and the contextual factors that impacted the culture of the RCU. Critical Social Theory and intersectionality (Hankivsky & Christoffersen, 2008) provided the theoretical basis for the study design, data collection and data analysis for understanding the experiences on the RCU. This study found four themes: (1) uncertainty within a new intersection; (2) working together emerges from within; (3) leading within the hierarchy; and (4) everyone contributing within a team. The implications for practice, policy and research include PSWs being an integral part of the nursing team, need for more RCUs, and examining best place for RCUs.enAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.NursingElectronic Thesis or Dissertation2015-01-26UncertaintyPersonal support workers (PSWs)Health care aides (HCAs)Unregulated care workers (URWs)Acute geriatric care unitsAcute care for elder unitsRestorative careRestorative care unit (RCU)Acute careStaff mix modelsHospitalStaffingRegistered nurse (RN)Registered practical nurse (RPN)LeadershipSupervisionTeamworkInterdisciplinary teamRelationshipsHierarchies