Psychiatric Nursing

“Nurses in psychiatric services prior to 1940 must have been greatly confused about their roles. Were they custodians? Were they surrogate mothers? Were they informers conveying descriptions of ‘bad’ behavior to physicians? Were they companions and/or friends of patients? Were they mother-like housekeepers keeping the wards clean and in order for Daddy (the physician)? Were they jailors preventing escapes, restraining patients, punishing misdeeds? Were they habit trainers? Were they protectors of the public, family, other patients? Were they occupational therapists or hydrotherapists? The nurse role was diffuse and the phenomenological focus for practice was unclear if not elusive” (Paplau, 22).