Disconfirmed in one's otherness: A comparison between the nurse's view of the patient's past, present and future and the patient's own view of the past, present and future

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 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.

Patients treated for psychosis and their perceptions of care in compulsory treatment: basis for an action plan

The purpose of the study was to describe patients' conceptions and experiences of care in compulsory treatment for acute onset of psychosis. Twelve patients with experience of compulsory treatment were interviewed in 2008-2009, and phenomenographic analysis was used to analyse the data. Two descriptive categories emerged in the results: receiving needed support and perceiving respectful care. Patients perceived that coercive interventions were positive if they were given good care, if they were given the shelter they needed, if they got help with understanding and if the setting was healing. Patients felt respected if they were treated like human beings, if they were allowed to retain as much of their autonomy as possible and if they were invited to participate even though they were under compulsory treatment. The results show that it is important to prevent patients from being traumatized during compulsory treatment and to take advantage of patients' inner resources. Patients' experiences of compulsory treatment can form the basis for preparing an individual action plan for future compulsory treatment. Individual action plans could empower patients during compulsory treatment and improve their experience of care.

Former patients' experience of psychiatric care: a qualitative investigation

In this study, 10 former patients' experiences of hospitalization are described using a qualitative approach. The informant group consisted of three men and seven women with different diagnoses and each with his or her individual experience of life as an inpatient. The aim of this study was to extend our understanding of former psychiatric inpatients' experience their time of admission to a psychiatric inpatients unit. Data were collected and analysed using a content analysis approach. From the former patients' descriptions, the following five themes emerged: being seen as a disease, striving for a sense of control in an alienating and frightening context, succumbing to repressive care, meeting an omniscient master, and care as a light in the darkness. In conclusion, the experience of psychiatric inpatient care could be interpreted and understood from former patients' narratives as a struggle for dignity in the face of discrimination and rejection.