Exploration of personal recovery-oriented care on an acute mental health unit

Abstract

BackgroundPersonal recovery should be the cornerstone of mental health nursing practice. Nursing interventions should build on consumers' strengths to provide hope, so consumers are empowered to achieve their own personal goals. AimThe aim of this study was to explore mental health nurses’ lived experience of their practice, understanding and knowledge of personal recovery-oriented care on acute mental health units. MethodVan Manen's methodology was utilised in this study. Data was gathered through semistructured conversational interviews with mental health nurses working on an acute unit. FindingsParticipants found personal recovery was difficult on an acute mental health unit. Factors that participants identified that impeded personal recovery-oriented care on acute mental health units included: the acuity of consumers in a low dependency area, lack of time to engage consumers, and loss of the therapeutic role for mental health nurses on acute units. DiscussionMental health nurses are expected to focus on the personal recovery needs of mental health consumers while managing clinical risks to consumers and others on the acute unit. This has the mental health nurse navigating a course between two worlds, and results in mental health nurses being confused between concepts of personal recovery and clinical recovery. ConclusionIf acute mental health nurses cannot define personal recovery, they will not be able to effectively implement interventions that support consumers in their personal recovery journey on acute units and will be drawn into the clinical recovery paradigm.