Mental health nurses' experiences of implementing a model to facilitate self‐empowerment in women living with borderline personality disorder in South Africa

Abstract

In South Africa, various treatment models from abroad have been implemented for patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. This report is based on a South African model that has been developed, implemented, and evaluated for mental health nurses to use in facilitating the self‐empowerment of women living with borderline personality disorder. The aim of this study was to describe the implementation of a model to facilitate self‐empowerment in women living with borderline personality disorder and to describe mental health nurses' experiences of implementing this model. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual research design was used for the study. Participants were mental health nurses working in an inpatient psychotherapy unit in a mental health hospital. Findings revealed that mental health nurses experienced the model as a secure framework to assist women living with borderline personality disorder in making a shift to being self‐empowered. The mental health nurses found that they had to adapt the model's timeframe to the women's own pace. Through use of the model, the mental health nurses also gained self‐leadership. This report provides evidence from mental health nurses that the model was practical and helpful in working with women living with borderline personality disorder. The mental health nurses saw signs of self‐empowerment in women living with borderline personality disorder.

A concept analysis of self‐leadership: The “bleeding edge” in nursing leadership

“…There is consensus among sources that self-leadership engenders learning to discern personal challenges, an awareness of self-growth, and the ability to self-lead in aspects related to professional life-all contributing to a sense of achievement. 2,18,20,21,49,53,54 Self-leadership is imperative for maximum effectiveness in nursing practice. Nurses who demonstrate self-leadership qualities will possess those characteristics known to have a positive influence when caring for patients.…”

“…While self-leadership in nursing has been examined in academic and mental health settings, 21,49,54 there is a paucity of research in other practice settings and in considering nurse characteristics, such as at the educational level, experience, and cultural background. These factors may be important in detailing variations in self-leadership and development strategies.…”

“…These factors may be important in detailing variations in self-leadership and development strategies. For example, Ntshingila 54 examined selfleadership related to mental health nurses within the specific context of South African philosophy. The model that was implemented in the research facilitated nurses' self-leadership with the demonstrated outcome of self-empowerment of women living with borderline personality disorder.…”