title: Reflective practice and its role in mental health nurses' practice development: a year-long study.
abstract: The study reported in this paper lasted over a year, and identifies a conceptual framework of nursing practice based upon a relationship-building process. It also identifies six characteristics of nursing roles inherent within the practice of mental health nurses on a Nursing Development Unit. The paper presents a structure and process of reflection for nursing practice as illustrated by the work of a group of nurses working in a NDU. The purpose of the study was to help them better understand their work with patients. The findings from the study are used to explore how the nurses described and implemented individualized, patient-focused care. This care was based upon the ability of the nurse to communicate well and to build a relationship with a patient, bound within a context of change.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Community Studies, University of Bournemouth, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 3LT, UK.
authors.forename: I W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods*; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*