Establishing professional role congruity within the discipline of mental health nursing

Machin, Tony (2017) Establishing professional role congruity within the discipline of mental health nursing. Doctoral thesis, Northumbria University.

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Abstract

Over the period of the last century in the United Kingdom mental health nursing roles have evolved and adapted in response to changes in mental health related policy and associated changes in the ethos, structure and delivery of mental health services. The conceptual framework informing this thesis drew upon the theoretical perspective of symbolic interactionism underpinning a qualitative, grounded theory approach augmented with the use of situational analysis to explore the processes involved in the development and maintenance of professional role congruity. 'Role congruity' is defined as a functional balance between aspects of role adequacy, role legitimacy and role support. Nine student and ten registered mental health nurses were depth interviewed between 2012 and 2016. Analysis of data was conducted using grounded theory data analysis approaches, with the research context incorporated into analysis using the mapping processes of situational analysis. This analysis yielded the formulation of a grounded theory model entitled 'Establishing Role Congruity', capturing the processes involved in developing and maintaining professional role congruity for this group of mental health nurses. Situational analysis enriched this model by contextualising the captured processes within 'social worlds' and discourses evident within the mental health practice arena. On the basis of this analysis, a conceptual model of 'Role Congruity Alignment' is proposed together with recommendations for contemporary and future mental health nursing roles with regard to the balance between 'generic/eclectic' functions and roles specialising in terms of service user groups and/or therapeutic interventions. Attendant implications for the initial education and subsequent continuing professional development of mental health nurses are summarised.

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