Contemporary mental health nursing : crisis and opportunity?

Year after year, decade after decade, nurses rate in public opinion polls as among the most respected and trusted professionals. This vote of confidence has remained despite the substantial changes to the profession including the educational preparation for nursing practice. Historically, nurses have been seen as tending to the sick, full of tireless compassion and having an endless capacity to care even under the most adverse conditions. But when the public are called upon to rate occupational and professional groups, it is likely that only a minority would have a mental health nurse in mind. For most the word nurse is still likely to conjure images of the nurse in the general hospital, who is skilful, knowledgeable and caring and who ensures that doctors’ orders are carried out to the letter. This image began with Florence Nightingale and has persisted at least to some degree despite the advancements in technology and pharmacology that have revolutionalized contemporary medicine, nursing and health care.