Donna Frost

Discussion and conclusions 271 8 growth and progress have been discussed. A unique contribution of this research is the insight that professional artistry or the potential for professional artistry can be developed in practice situations in which the nurse does not feel like an expert or feels like they are struggling, as well as being evident and celebrated in the practice of expert nurses and in the beautiful moments of practice. Use of the CCCI process enabled members of this inquiry to focus on understanding what was happening in the present and on creating conditions to support what could be, without having to struggle to develop a praxis we did not yet fully comprehend. The methodological contribution of this research will be further explored below. Implications within nursing and healthcare practice The insights from this research can be used to alter or augment existing practice development or continuing education activities. Group reflection meetings, feedback on performance activities, moral case deliberations, individual journaling, reflection activities and critical companionship or other forms of helping relationships all offer space and opportunities to incorporate either the principles, methods or findings from this research in ways that could support the development of professional artistry. Similar opportunities are present within undergraduate and postgraduate nursing education. The findings concerning the nature of professional artistry and the five patterns of engagement are suitable for use as a reflective and/or evaluative framework when considering nursing or other professional practice. In what ways, for example, does the nurse or student nurse create a sheltered shared space when entering a professional encounter? Which aspects of the encounter suggest that he is working with both the now and the not yet? What evidence is there to show that he is committed to the ideal – and what is that ideal in the context of his practice? Another starting point is offered by the table of challenges and enabling factors presented in Chapter 7 and reproduced here (see Table 8 . 1 ). Taking action to tackle a potential or experienced challenge will help lay the groundwork and create the conditions for a professional and developmental context in which investigating or developing professional artistry is more achievable.