The arrogance of power: a reflection on contemporary mental health nursing practice*

Sines, David

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2648.1994.20050894.x

Cited by 23 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…While nurse participants busily maintain the ‘status quo’, the findings suggest they are unsure about the purpose or the meaning of this forum. Maintaining the status quo can certainly perpetuate stagnant work practices and stifle creativity (Sines 1994), as well as establishing expectations through institutionalized and legitimized behaviours that this is ‘the way things are done around here’ (Grant & Mills 2000, p. 14). This supports discussion in the literature that challenges the relevance of existing insitutionalized practices, given the changed context of care (Thomas 1996; Treatment Protocol Project 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The challenges of mental health care reform for contemporary mental health nursing practice: Delivery of nursing care

Cleary¹

2003

Int J Mental Health Nurs

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This ethnographic account of mental health nursing in a 22-bed acute inpatient facility in New South Wales, Australia, uncovered cultural meaning and cultural realities associated with the delivery of nursing care within the context of current challenges, demands, and influences brought about by service reforms. The findings demonstrate that mental health nurses have been responsive to changes brought about by the reforms. The ability of nurses to readily identify service gaps in their everyday practice provides them with the opportunity to develop strategies to respond to workplace challenges. As such, findings of the study contribute to current discussions concerning acute inpatient mental health nursing practice.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The challenges of mental health care reform for contemporary mental health nursing practice: Delivery of nursing care

Cleary¹

2003

Int J Mental Health Nurs

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“… 26 In situations where community mental‐health nurses demonstrate the appropriate knowledge and skills required to negotiate cooperative relationships with patients, reliance on legitimate authority to exert their influence in the provision of compulsory treatment may be greatly lessened. 43 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The context of care: Issues of power and control between patients and community mental health nurses

Muir‐Cochrane

2000

Int J of Nursing Practice

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Issues of power and control are inevitably linked to the nurse–patient relationship within mental health settings. This paper discusses power relations between nurses and patients within the context of the home visit as an important component of the provision of care to patients living with enduring mental illness. An interpretive ethnographic account was adopted to explore how nurses and patients negotiated issues of power and control with respect to the specific responsibilities associated with community mental health nursing practice. The home visit involved a shifting of power in favour of the patient; patients behaved as ‘hosts’ and nurses as ‘guests’. However, within this framework, nurses still exerted power in relation to certain aspects of patients' daily living which are deemed to be within the domain of nursing, and so legitimise the nurse's interventions. This study explicates the daily exigencies of community mental health practice and provides insights into difficult aspects of nurses' work, which have received little attention in the nursing literature to date.

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“…Finally, persuasion, identified as a normative form of control in which both professional and patient choose to form and terminate a relationship. Within the current UK climate of skill mix review and employment insecurity ( Sines 1994) CMHNs are more likely to employ the first three strategies rather than the last.…”

Section: Experience In the Usamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…British nurses’ view of their relationship with service users has focused on the development of effective working relationships. This relationship, as emphasized in the literature, is founded on the basis of warmth, empathy and genuiness, aiming for a collaborative partnership to address problems ( Barker 1990, Sines 1994, Trevidi 1996). In the past there has been a tradition amongst mental health nurses to identify themselves as patient advocates ( Sines 1994).…”

Section: Issues For Mental Health Nursesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Severe mental illness, statutory supervision and mental health nursing in the United Kingdom: meeting the challenge

Wells

1998

Journal of Advanced Nursing

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Within the United Kingdom a combination of limited resources and public fears about the behaviour of mentally ill people living in the community has led the government to prioritize those with severe mental illness. In support of this legislation has been passed which provides for those mentally ill deemed 'at risk' to be supervized in the community against their will. This supervisory role will be mainly undertaken by mental health nurses. Through examination of relevant British and American literature, this paper argues that mental health nursing at a national level lacks a defined role which the new legislation may provide, thereby enhancing the profession's voice in overall mental health policy formulation. Such a role, however, also poses important questions for mental health nurses' practice, their relationships with users, colleagues and the wider society. Such issues may have unforeseen negative consequences for users. It is argued that the legislation will pose important dilemmas for mental health nurses in these domains. It is argued that a proactive research agenda needs to be established which is relevant and of use to practitioners when confronted with issues in their supervision role. Areas for future research are suggested.

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The arrogance of power: a reflection on contemporary mental health nursing practice*

Cited by 23 publications

References 8 publications

The challenges of mental health care reform for contemporary mental health nursing practice: Delivery of nursing care

The challenges of mental health care reform for contemporary mental health nursing practice: Delivery of nursing care

The context of care: Issues of power and control between patients and community mental health nurses

Severe mental illness, statutory supervision and mental health nursing in the United Kingdom: meeting the challenge

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