Transcultural ethical dilemmas in psych nursing

[Gendequitee]

Kiora/G'day.....Greetings from the Antipodes.....

I'm a mental health nurse of 40 years experience who has been embroiled for the last 4 years in a legal conflict regarding safety to practice:

In essence ....in an emergency situation .......when core services totally failed ..........I acted in good faith as a nurse in order to protect safety and save life....succeeding in my object.

As a result of my actions I was struck from the NZ Nurses Register for one year for 'professional misconduct". I have fought this decision through the NZ legal system to no avail, and have now learned to accept the decision of the NZ Nursing Council...... and the constraints on my practice as a Psychiatric Nurse in New Zealand.

Presently I am fighting for reinstatement by Council who still oppose my return to practice.

During the years of this conflict I have remained under monthly professional supervision and have also initiated a debate on the professional issues involved. The invitation to debate was extended to 36 prominent mental health nursing clinicians, academics, and other mental health professionals here in NZ. Also invited to contribute were 2 academics from the UK and 2 from Australia.

Four courageous folk from NZ contributed. and 3 of the 4 from outside NZ contributed.

It appears that there is a reluctance to debate the real professional dilemma that I unfortunately experienced.

I believe the debate raises important concerns about language usage and metaphor in the relationship between client and Mental Health Nurse: concepts of CARE that are relevant to mental health nursing internationally, particularly those of use with specialist training in the area of interpersonal skills.

The exploration of 'safe practice' and 'reality ethics' cannot progress in the climate of fear and suppression I presently experience here in NZ Nursing.

My experience of the Disciplinary Processes of The NZ Nursing Council throughout the last 4 yrs of my life.... cause me to reflect upon, examine, and question the relationship between a truly "UNIVERSAL concept of what being MENTALLY HEALTHY"....actually means!

AND:

The fundamental privileges of democracy.....freedom of thought, speech, expression....to be free of discrimination and abuse....to be protected by common law and natural justice.....all the protections we should enshrine in a hopefully.... 'Mentally Healthy Caring Society'.....

I am eager to hear feedback on the relevant professional issues from outside NZ. The complete documentation of all that has transpired is available to authentic Nursing Researchers.

The issue of my Reinstatement has now reached the Offices of the NZ Ombudsman.

Presently my Reinstatement Hearing is schedule for 22nd February 2008.

I invite all with an interest in the dynamics of the nurse/client relationship and relative ethical issues.

Respectful regards to you all

Gendequity