‘Because That's the Way It's Always Been Done’: Reviewing the Nurse-Initiated Rules in a Mental Health Unit as a Step Toward Trauma-Informed Care

Abstract

Acknowledgement of the effects of trauma in the lives of the mental health service user population is increasingly being recognised as an imperative for Mental Health services. 'Trauma-informed care' provides values to guide practice. Mental Health nurses are well placed to commence integrating trauma-informed care into everyday practice. This paper describes the process of reviewing the nurse-led rules in an acute inpatient mental health unit as one step toward providing a trauma-informed environment. Findings from questionnaires are used to highlight the applicability of the process to the underlying values of trauma-informed care. Consistency and transparency of rules is demonstrated as a nursing-led step toward establishing emotional safety and creating a trauma-informed environment.

Literature review of trauma‐informed care: Implications for mental health nurses working in acute inpatient settings in Australia

“…; Elliot et al . ; Goetz & Taylor‐Trujillo ; Isobel ; Lietz ). The date range for the studies spanned 2008–2015, and two Australian studies were included (Ashmore ; Isobel ).…”

“…; Goetz & Taylor‐Trujillo ; Isobel ; Lietz ). The date range for the studies spanned 2008–2015, and two Australian studies were included (Ashmore ; Isobel ). Only one Australian study was found that examined TIC from the consumers’ perspective in an acute adult mental health unit (Isobel ).…”

“…; Borckardt et al . ; Isobel ; Lietz ). Integrating TIC services into an adult inpatient unit over a period of 12 months, Clark et al .…”

“…; Chandler ; Elliot et al . ; Goetz & Taylor‐Trujillo ; Isobel ; Lietz ). Ashmore's () TIC study of mental health staff ( n = 8) showed that controlled regimes and activities take power away from consumers, particularly if they are being treated involuntarily under the New South Wales Mental Health Act ().…”

Using trauma informed care as a nursing model of care in an acute inpatient mental health unit: A practice development process

“…Nurses are required to simultaneously engage with consumers and build rapport while delivering at times unwanted medication, keeping doors locked and enforcing rules (Isobel 2015). A Practice Development approach was used to allow the unit to develop its own meaning of TIC in practice.…”