Abstract
The focus of this study is nurses working in acute psychiatric hospital settings. A core question is what knowledge they utilise in clinical practice in the interaction with psychotic patients. As these patients often have a fundamental distrust in other people, and this often makes it hard for them to initiate interpersonal relationships. Studies by Mellow, Peplau, Lindstrøm and Hummelvoll constitute the theoretical basis for this study.
These authors explain the working relationship between nurses and the psychotic persons as something that develops in three or four phases. In this investigative study nine nurses were interviewed. Qualitative research interviews are used to obtain the empirical data. The analysis is based on Kvales' three levels of research: self-understanding, critical common sense and theoretical understanding. The findings show that nurses do initiate therapeutic interactional processes between themselves and the psychotic persons. Through this process the nurses seek to discern the individual behind the diagnosis, and to create a trusting and reciprocal interpersonal relationship in their association with the psychotic persons.