Balancing between a Person-Centred and a Common Staff Approach: Nursing Staff’s Experiences of Good Nursing Practice for Patients Who Self-Harm

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe nursing staff’s experiences of good nursing practice in psychiatric in-patient care for patients with self-harming behavior. The participants were nine nurses and eight nursing assistants working in two in-patient wards in general psychiatry. Four focus group discussions were held and subjected to qualitative content analysis. The findings showed that good nursing practice balanced a person-centred approach with a common staff approach, allowing people who self-harm and staff to share responsibility for structuring everyday life, keeping to the plan, communicating decisions, and finding individual opportunities for relief. Reflective discussions among the staff concerning prejudice, emotional stress, lack of resources, and shortcomings in care planning could also prevent a stigmatizing culture and organizational deficiencies, which would be beneficial for both the people who self-harm and the staff.