Reflections on the philosophy of caring in mental health

The trend towards definition of the role of the nurse as 'therapist' in mental health has resulted in clarification of what some nurses might do, with some patients, to resolve fairly specific problems of living. Not all psychiatric nurses are, however, satisfied that the developments which arise from this role definition will necessarily benefit the service overall. Indeed, the concept of the nurse-as-therapist has led, indirectly, to an expression of anxiety over the balance of 'care' versus 'therapy'. This is manifested at a time when nurses outwith the mental health setting are describing the need for a stronger emphasis upon therapeutic factors in nursing care, especially involving psychosocial variables.