Ghost or phoenix: the disappearance or rise of mental health nursing?

Dan is a mental health nurse, lecturer and mentalization based treatment practitioner, and is currently undertaking a PhD exploring experiences of crisis intervention for people diagnosed with 'borderline personality disorder'. He is a member of the executive group for the Scottish Personality Disorder Network and has contributed to best practice statements locally and nationally. Topics of his writing, speaking and interest include 'personality disorder', the limitations of psychiatric diagnosis, trauma informed care, ethics, risk, and the identity and education of mental health nurses. In June 2022, Dan presented a matter for discussion at the Royal College of Nursing congress, raising concerns around the impact of the Nursing and Midwifery Council's Future Nurse Standards on the specialist education of mental health nursing students. Following a nomination and selection process, Dan Warrender was chosen to deliver this keynote lecture on behalf of Mental Health Nurse Academics UK (MHNAUK). This presentation explores the current challenges impacting on mental health nurse education

Self-disclosure: the invaluable grey area.

Self-disclosure can be valuable in therapeutic relationships, though practitioners may feel apprehension around boundaries and worry what may be appropriate. This article asserts the importance of critical thinking around self-disclosure, emphasising that, whilst there is no clear ‘right and wrong’, what is necessary in professional practice is its carefully considered and purposeful use. Discussion using evidence and clinical examples is framed within a model that may be used to aid reflection on the use of self-disclosure within the therapeutic relationship. Self-disclosure is a grey area, though its use in mental health nursing can be invaluable

A profession confined: the identity crisis of mental health nursing. [Blog post}

Mental health nursing is a profession which is confined both between disciplines, and within nursing itself. Mental health care is often set up around psychiatrist-led diagnoses and medically-focused treatments such as medication, which can be compulsory. Meanwhile, the curiosity around the human mind and its functions is considered the realm of psychologists. Mental health nursing emphasises the importance of the therapeutic relationship, yet an autonomous role is not always clear in between these other professions. Furthermore, nurse trainings are too often generic where they should be bespoke, particularly given the ethical dilemmas and human rights issues involved in mental health care. Mental health nurses need both a clear identity and an appropriate preparation that expands their perspective. At present, I feel claustrophobic in my confined profession and have the fear that we may lose what identity we have

Though noble, NMC’s standards are an assault on mental health nursing.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council's (NMC) Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses have noble aims and yet their impact has been an assault on mental health nursing as a specialism. Outnumbered in the profession as a whole, mental health nursing has often been undervalued and misunderstood, and the idea of what it means to be a nurse is becoming synonymous with that of general adult nursing. 'Generic' nurse education is not truly generic. While the NMC set standards, these are then interpreted by higher education institutions (HEIs). This has led to a postcode lottery with HEIs offering different depth of mental health content

Redefining a traditional craft: practices of blacksmithing in the artwork of Tom Joyce

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Fine Arts by DissertationIn this study I focus on the creative practice of American artist Tom Joyce and examine how his work can be seen to redefine the traditional craft of blacksmithing. Joyce uses traditional and contemporary blacksmithing techniques to form contemporary sculptures as well as functional items such as custom made architectural and lighting fixtures, vessels, and furniture. He thus brings together fine arts and traditional craft practices in bridging the categories of fine art, craft and design. Through appropriate design, the recycling of selected metal materials and community involvement he creates social awareness around environmental issues as well as highlighting cultural craft practices. The imparting of metalsmithing skills that Joyce has been involved in through teaching groups and individuals by way of apprenticeships and workshops is of particular interest to my own artistic blacksmithing practice. As a maker of forged sculptural works, I have over the last ten years used my work and experience of blacksmithing in facilitating life skills training for South African children and youth, recognizing the value in passing on such skills and experience. The primary aim of my research is to examine how the adoption of a traditional craft practice such as blacksmithing into the realm of fine art may be shown to provide a tool to invigorate sculpture within social and educational contexts. In my research, I draw mainly on writings in the fields of anthropology and craft theory. Texts by anthropologists Tim Ingold, Alfred Gell, Mircea Eliade and Charles M. Keller and Janet Dixon Keller are consulted in my examination of the craft of blacksmithing as an “essential alchemy of art” (Gell in Adamson (ed.), 2010: 464) in which materials and the ideas associated with such materials are used and transformed. Looking at the craft and mythological significance of metalsmithing in relation to Joyce’s creative practice, I go on to consider the potentially transformative experience that the development of metalsmithing craft skills can entail. Writings on contemporary craft by Glenn Adamson, Howard Risatti, Bruce Metcalf and others are brought into my discussion to further elucidate on the value of craft-based work. I finally outline my own creative work produced for this degree in relation to the above