by Antonio R. Moreno Poyato, Khadija El Abidi El Ghazouani, Sara Sanchez-Balcells, The Conversation
Being admitted to a mental health unit can be one of the most vulnerable moments in a person's life. They often arrive in the midst of a crisis, and are fearful, confused, and anxious. But in these situations, one thing can profoundly affect their experience: the relationship established with the nurses who attend them, especially in the first days.
While it may seem secondary to medical treatments or clinical decisions, the therapeutic relationship—meaning the collaborative bond between patient and nurse—has a greater impact than previously thought.
Our study, carried out in 12 Spanish mental health units, demonstrated that this relationship is not always built in the way we might think.
An uneven start
