Ontology and the nurse patient relationship in psychiartic nursing

Authors

Kenneth Walsh, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

27606

Publication Details

Walsh, K. (1994). Ontology and the nurse patient relationship in psychiartic nursing. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 3 (4), 113-119.

Abstract

In this era of psychiatric 'wonder drugs ' and biological detemtinism it is easy to forget the primary importance of human interaction and the nurse-patient relationship in bringing about c'hange in mental illness. In the light of recent criticism of the nurse-patient relationship in the Burdekin Report, it is perhaps timely to explore the basic commonality of what it is to be in illness and in wellness. TItis paper examines the ontological perspectives of R.D.Laing, Man.in Heidegger and Jean-Paul Same with a view to reasserting the primacy of a Being to Eieing interaction in the therapeutic relationship.