Acknowledgements

The research would not have been possible without the invaluable help since 2009 of a series of competent and energetic research assistants in Canada, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. In alphabetical order they are Alfredo Díaz, Sara González, Nadine Jubb, Ashley Lowenthal, Marieli Martínez, Irma Molina, Amy Romagnoli, Kathy Peterson, Vicente Sánchez, Teresa Torres, and Maria Zabalza. Especially multi-faceted and deserving of special thanks are Nadine, Sara, Teresa, and Marieli.

I am also extremely thankful to a group of people in both countries who went out of their way to facilitate the research in many different and sometimes multiple ways. In Nicaragua:  Rosario Hernández, Miguel Orozco, Zeneyda Quiroz, and José Vanegas.  In El Salvador:  Alejandra Castillo, Daniel Enrique Castro, Irma Alicia Oliva de Contreras, Elizabeth Elías, Evelia González, Zoila Gloria de Gómez, Marta Luz Martínez, Angela Ostorga, Donald Ramos, and Dinora de Recinos. Also in El Salvador, my thanks to Concepción Castaneda, Director of the Unidad de Enfermería of the Ministry of Health, and to members of the Núcleo de Investigación, especially Sofía Viana de Abrego, for their support in the final phase of the research in July 2013.

I am extremely grateful to Mary Angela Elías Marroquín for her invaluable help and support. And I owe a very special debt of thanks to Alejandra Castillo who facilitated countless connections, gave crucial advice, encouragement and support over the three and a half years from the initiation of the field research to the final phase.

I would be remiss if I did not mention Sandy Auld at the University of Guelph, to whom I am extremely grateful for the numerous informative email exchanges, and for reading and working on my lengthy research ethics “change request” application in a remarkably expedited time period during the summer break of 2013.

There are dozens of others who generously gave of their time (sometimes several hours, and sometimes on more than one occasion) to share their knowledge and experiences with me in interviews, focus groups, feedback seminars, and meetings, who for reasons of confidentiality cannot be named. To the nurses who graciously agreed to be observed and photographed during their daily and nightly work routines, a very special thanks for your patience and generosity of spirit.