title: 'Working behind the scenes'. An ethical view of mental health nursing and first-episode psychosis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to explore and reflect upon mental health nursing and first-episode psychosis. Seven multidisciplinary focus group interviews were conducted, and data analysis was influenced by a grounded theory approach. The core category was found to be a process named 'working behind the scenes'. It is presented along with three subcategories: 'keeping the patient in mind', 'invisible care' and 'invisible network contact'. Findings are illuminated with the ethical principles of respect for autonomy and paternalism. Nursing care is dynamic, and clinical work moves along continuums between autonomy and paternalism and between ethical reflective and non-reflective practice. 'Working behind the scenes' is considered to be in a paternalistic area, containing an ethical reflection. Treating and caring for individuals experiencing first-episode psychosis demands an ethical awareness and great vigilance by nurses. The study is a contribution to reflection upon everyday nursing practice, and the conclusion concerns the importance of making invisible work visible.
authors.affiliation: University of Nordland-School of Professional Studies, Bodoe, Norway. esmoe@online.no
authors.forename: Cathrine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moe
authors.forename: Erling I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Kvig
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brinchmann
authors.forename: Berit S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Brinchmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009742:Nursing Theory; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000941:ethics*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012424:Rural Population; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D055815:Young Adult