Åbo Akademi University, Department of Caring Science
LINDFORS-YLIMANNILA ELSI: The elements in caring culture on
an adolescent psychiatric ward
Master's thesis, 78 pages, 3 appendixes
Supervisor: PhD Lisbet Lindholm
November 1999
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Key words: caring culture, care culture, adolescent psychiatry, ethnography
The purpose of this study is to identify and describe from a caring science
perspective (according to Eriksson, 1996-1998) the phenomena which
characterize and shape the caring culture on an adolescent psychiatric ward.
The study aims to find caring elements and describe caring by means of the
nurses' conceptions and the patients' experiences.
The questions of the study are: 1. What is characteristic of psychiatric caring
culture on an adolescent psychiatric ward according to the nurses? 2. What is
characteristic of psychiatric caring culture on an adolescent psychiatric ward
according to the patients?
The ethnographic method by Spradley (1979) was used as the method of
collecting and analyzing data. The context of the study is the adolescent
psychiatric care as it is today in a concrete sense on the ward where the
interviews took place. The informants, three patients and four nurses, were
selected together with the nurses.
The characteristic elements of caring culture on this adolescent psychiatric
ward are: a constant invitation to a caring relationship by the nurse, respect to
the patient's uniqueness - caring from the patient's perspective, genuine
protective care, the inmost aim of care, the world of care and education.
The conclusions drawn from the results are that caring on this ward is not only
technique, work, manners or empty practice. The substance of caring
constitutes of purging, playing and teaching, i.e. nursing, protecting, guiding,
confirming and being present with such a hold which gives a patient the feeling
of safety. The patient's absolute dignity can be seen in the way his or her
uniqueness is respected. In this culture the nurses have adopted a personal
ethics which means that they enjoy caring. A principle of togetherness which is
based on a relationship is practiced on the ward. The relationship contains
sharing and supporting and this gives the patient nurture in life. This
relationship also allows privacy and possibility to be alone in communion. The
aim of the care is that the patient finds a purpose for living and can make
independent decisions concerning his or her health and life.