Valuing autonomy, struggling for an identity and a collective voice, and seeking role recognition: community mental health nurses' perceptions of their roles.
Leaders in this community mental health system approached the problem of job frustration, morale issues, and turnover concerns of their Community Mental Health Nurses (CMHNs) by designing a qualitative study using Participant Action Research (PAR) methodology based on the philosophy of Habermas. Six focus groups were conducted to address the nurses' concerns. The themes of Valuing Autonomy, Struggling for an Identity and Collective Voice, and Seeking Role Recognition best explained the participants' concerns. The study concluded with an action plan, the implementation of the plan, and a discussion of the plan's final outcomes.
White
Jane H
JH
Adelphi University, School of Nursing, Garden City, New York 11530, USA. white@adelphi.edu
Kudless
Mary
M
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002322:Career Mobility; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005639:Frustration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D009013:Morale; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D015144:Southeastern United States