Controlling emotions-nurses' lived experiences caring for patients in forensic psychiatry

Purpose: Nurses working in forensic psychiatry often encounter offenders who have a severe mental illness, which may cause ethical challenges and influence nurses' daily work. This study was conducted to illuminate the meaning of nurses' lived experiences of encounters with patients with m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being 2019-01, Vol.14 (1), p.1682911
Main Authors: Hammarström, Lars, Häggström, Marie, Devik, Siri Andreassen, Hellzen, Ove
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Attitude of Health Personnel
Emotional regulation
Emotions
Empirical Studies
Encounters
Ethical dilemmas
Exegesis & hermeneutics
Female
forensic nursing
Forensic psychiatric nursing
Forensic Psychiatry
Health care
Humans
Illnesses
Inpatient care
Interviews
Interviews as Topic
lived experience
Male
Medical personnel
Mental disorders
Middle Aged
Nurse-Patient Relations
nurse-patient relationship
Nurses
nursing
Nursing Care
Offenders
phenomenological-hermeneutic approach
Professional identity
Qualitative Research
Selfreflection
Sympathy
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Summary:Purpose: Nurses working in forensic psychiatry often encounter offenders who have a severe mental illness, which may cause ethical challenges and influence nurses' daily work. This study was conducted to illuminate the meaning of nurses' lived experiences of encounters with patients with mental illnesses in forensic inpatient care. Methods: This qualitative study employed narrative interviews with 13 nurses. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim and analysed following a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. Results: Four key themes were revealed: "Being frustrated" (subthemes included "Fighting resignation" and "Being disappointed"), "Protecting oneself" (subthemes included "To shy away," "Being on your guard," and "Being disclosed"), "Being open-minded" (subthemes included "Being confirmed," "Developing trust," and "Developing compassion"), and "Striving for control" (subthemes included "Sensing mutual vulnerability" and "Regulating oneself"). Further, working in forensic psychiatry challenged nurses' identity as healthcare professionals because of being in a stressful context. Conclusions: Dealing with aggressive patients with severe mental illnesses threatens nurses' professional identity. Nurses must attempt to empathize with patients' experiences and respond accordingly. Utilizing strategies rooted in compassion such as self-reflection, emotional regulation, and distancing themselves when necessary may enable nurses to more effectively respond to patients' needs.
ISSN:1748-2631
1748-2623
1748-2631
DOI:10.1080/17482631.2019.1682911