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4/
Editorial introductions
Chapter 8 - Psychiatric Nursing and the Myth of Altruism
by Joy Bray
Psychiatric nursing is moving, in theory at least,
closer to a position where a central aspect of the nurse's role is to offer the
sort of healing relationship outlined. Offering help, that is, so that people
can experience their distress and then see it both as the reasonable upshot of
their life history and an opportunity for growth. Perhaps, as argued, within the
psyche-industry nurses occupy the ideal position to adopt this role. In chapter
eight Joy Bray discusses the theoretical background to this move. She examines
whether it is in fact taking place and then suggests another way in which self-interest
operates within psychiatric nursing to interrupt progress. Drawing on themes developed
in previous chapters in relation to pathologising the other, Joy holds up a mirror
to explore the 'illness' of being a mental health professional. She insists that
proper attention be given to our own mental health needs if we are to work effectively.
In particular Joy addresses the need for therapeutic supervision and staff support
groups. She acknowledges how unlikely it is that these needs will be adequately
met in the current social and economic climate.
