Challenging Practice in Mental Health Nursing questions theories and practices which have become central in mental health care today.

The book is inspired by the growing concerns of both the public and professionals about accepted methods of practice and their effects on patients and clients. Liam Clarke argues that while many different theories and models exist their validity and effectiveness in caring for patients has yet to be proved.

Chapters examine:

• holism
• Rogerian and other counselling theories
• forensic psychiatry
• rational emotive therapy

This will be an essential and thought-provoking read for nurses and other mental health professionals who want to develop as critical practitioners.

Reviews

'In this fascinating selection of essays, Clarke rigorously examines the two stances adopted by modern mental health nursing - the humanistic and biomedical - and finds both wanting. His style is indignant yet thoughtful and entertaining ... Mental health nursing is placed in the broader nursing context. The author looks critically at where we are now and the pressures that led to the quest for the 'Holy Grail' of the professionalisation of nursing ... There is also enough wit and human detail to make this an entertaining, as well as useful read.-Nursing Times

Book Information
ISBN 9780415186971
Author Liam Clarke
Format Paperback
Page Count 176
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 272g