TY - JOUR
T1 - The mental health imaginary vis-a-vis its nurses and Australian environs : an essay
AU - Nicholls, Daniel
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - This paper aims to contribute to a debate around the state of mental health nursing in the early 21st century. The author uses his nursing background in mental health in Australia as well as his training in philosophy to attempt to say something about what he terms the mental health imaginary. The research in situ commences with an outline of the philosophical traditions that are called upon, in particular Husserlian phenomenology, before launching into an experiential exegesis. Tracing his memory of a work history in mental and general health the author seeks to uncover constitutive elements of nursing in mental health. Outlining the evolution of nursing in mental health in Australia, as he recalls it, he touches on developments in education, professional amalgamations and the introduction of crisis teams. The question of risk and uncertainty is opened up to reveal that the assimilation of these elements into practice is what distinguishes nursing in mental health from nursing in other areas. The questions of subjectivity and objectivity are addressed throughout in relation to how they might operate within the imaginary.
AB - This paper aims to contribute to a debate around the state of mental health nursing in the early 21st century. The author uses his nursing background in mental health in Australia as well as his training in philosophy to attempt to say something about what he terms the mental health imaginary. The research in situ commences with an outline of the philosophical traditions that are called upon, in particular Husserlian phenomenology, before launching into an experiential exegesis. Tracing his memory of a work history in mental and general health the author seeks to uncover constitutive elements of nursing in mental health. Outlining the evolution of nursing in mental health in Australia, as he recalls it, he touches on developments in education, professional amalgamations and the introduction of crisis teams. The question of risk and uncertainty is opened up to reveal that the assimilation of these elements into practice is what distinguishes nursing in mental health from nursing in other areas. The questions of subjectivity and objectivity are addressed throughout in relation to how they might operate within the imaginary.
UR - http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/560632
U2 - 10.1177/1744987114557715
DO - 10.1177/1744987114557715
M3 - Article
SN - 1361-4096
VL - 19
SP - 580
EP - 589
JO - Journal of Research in Nursing
JF - Journal of Research in Nursing
IS - 45511
ER -