Care of the Chronically Mentally Ill: A Continuing Challenge to Nursing

Abstract

Historically, nursing has differentiated its Junctions from those of medicine by talcing the position that nursing's primary function is to care for clients while physicians focus on curing them. One might speculate therefore, that nurses should be more effective than other members of the team in caring for the chronically mentally ill especially in terms of the needs of these specific clients. Supportive or care interventions vis-à-vis change or cure interventions are essential. This is not to say that change and cure are impossible. Effective care and support interventions can and do lead to change. This paper supports the position that psychiatric nurses have greater potential for contacting and helping the chronically mentally ill client than other mental health professionals and challenges them to assume the responsibility. The philosophic (holistic) and conceptual (eclectic) bases of nursing preparation are explored. The profile of the client, their needs, and strategies of nursing care are discussed. Nursing competencies are compared to the needs of the client to demonstrate their congruence. Nurses should use the power of their practice to empower chronically mentally ill clients to participate in their recovery.