Community mental health nurses speak out: the critical relationship between emotional wellbeing and satisfying professional practice.

Full Abstract

The article reports on selected findings of a research study concerning emotional wellbeing and professional nursing practice (Rose 2002). It highlights the relationship between community mental health nurses' and emotional wellbeing, and their capacity to provide satisfying professional nursing practice (Rose 2002). The notion of emotional wellbeing, factors that impacted upon the participants' emotional wellbeing, and the relationship of emotional wellbeing to professional practice were revealed in the study. These findings were based on a qualitative critical feminist research inquiry and specifically, interviews with five women community mental health nurses in Australia. Whilst complex, emotional wellbeing was found to be both implicitly and explicitly linked to the participants intertwined personal and professional experiences. Four key components were identified:
the nebulous notion; the stress relationship; the mind, body, spirit connection; and, inner sense of balance. In terms of emotional wellbeing and professional practice, three themes were revealed. These were:
being able to speak out (or not); being autonomous (or not) and being satisfied (or not). The authors argue that the emotional wellbeing of nurses working in community mental health settings is critical to satisfying professional practice. Furthermore nursing work involves emotional work which impacts on one's emotional wellbeing and emotional wellbeing is integrally linked to professional practice. It is recommended that health organisations must be pro-active in addressing the emotional needs of nurses to ensure the delivery of health care that is aligned to professional practice. This approach will ensure nurses will feel more recognised and validated in terms of their nursing practice.

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Author information

Author/s: Rose, Jayln (J); Glass, Nel (N);

Affiliation: Southern Cross University, New South Wales.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Collegian (Royal College of Nursing, Australia) (Collegian), published in Australia. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Oct; vol 13 (issue 4) : pp 27-32

Dates: Created 2007/02/08; Completed 2007/03/13;

PMID: 17285828, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Attitude of Health Personnel
Burnout, Professional - prevention & control; psychology
Communication
Community Health Nursing - organization & administration
Community Mental Health Services - organization & administration
Female
Health Status
Humans
Job Satisfaction
Mental Health

New South Wales
Nursing Methodology Research
Nursing Staff - organization & administration; psychology
Nursing, Supervisory - organization & administration
Occupational Health
Professional Autonomy
Professional Competence - standards
Psychiatric Nursing - organization & administration
Qualitative Research
Queensland
Questionnaires
Women, Working - psychology

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