Community mental health nurses and their emotional wellbeing: is anyone listening?

This paper highlights some of the findings from a recent study with women community mental health nurses which explored the relationship between emotional wellbeing and professional practice. Specifically, this article addresses the unique meaning of emotional wellbeing, self healing strategies used by participants, and identifies the relationship to professional practice. The findings revealed that the notion of emotional wellbeing whilst complex was explicitly linked to the intertwining of their personal and professional experiences and situations. It is argued that the implications for failing to meet the needs of our nurses will not only jeopardise the nurses themselves but moreover the clients as recipients of such an essential service.