A hermeneutic approach to the characteristics of mental health nursing practice

Accessible summary The hermeneutic approach is a way to develop a new practice in mental health nursing including a reflective way of being and acting in order to create a foundation for change and improvements. Mental health nursing is dependent on the development of hermeneutic knowledge for understanding the deeper meaning of, for example, encountering a patient with emotional pain. The hermeneutic approach can help nurses to understand how intuition and empathy is a way to empower patients, thus providing hope and future possibilities. The implications for mental health nursing practice is to be open to change some of the negative images of past discussions in order to provide high‐quality care and support to the suffering patient. Abstract Mental health nursing (MHN) takes a non‐reductionist view of the human being, based on a hermeneutic and interdisciplinary perspective. MHN is dependent on the development of hermeneutic knowledge for understanding the deeper meaning of, for example, encountering a patient with emotional pain. The aim of this study was to provide a philosophical discussion about the characteristics of MHN practice. The hermeneutic approach was used to expand the philosophical discussion of MHN. In order to explore the consequences for MHN practice, previous relevant research within the discipline of MHN was used, exemplified by patients suffering from emotional pain. Two themes emerged: A reflective way of being and working and Relationships as a foundation for change and improvements. Four themes emerged related to the practice of the nurse: Desire for confirmation and trust, The vulnerable human being, The difficulties involved in responsibility and The power of self‐development, authenticity and freedom. MHN must be open to changing some of the negative images of past interdisciplinary discussions in order to provide high quality care and support to the suffering patient. The hermeneutic approach is one way to help nurses who work in the context of mental health to understand and use their intuition and empathy to empower patients, thus providing hope and future possibilities.