Exploring How Alberta Health Services Nurses are Making Sense of Their Role in Relation to the Recent Changes to the Mental Health Act of Alberta
Date
2024-04-30
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Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore how Alberta Health Services nurses are making sense of their role in relation to the recent changes to the Mental Health Act of Alberta. The Mental Health Act (MHA) of Alberta was enacted to protect and ensure the rights of people suffering from mental disorders. The most recent MHA amendment, which was enacted in September 2020, includes expanded duties required of the hospital and health care providers. Social Constructivism, Carper’s Ways of Knowing theory, and Uncertainty theory will provide the theoretical framework for this study. A Thematic Analysis method was utilized to elicit responses using a semi-structured interview tool. Data analysis will be conducted using the six-step thematic analysis as introduced by Braun and Clarke (2006). The way nurses make sense of their role contributes to the composition of ethically informed, safe, and effective care within the scope of professional practice and current legislation. This study helps address this gap in the context of mental health nursing practice in Alberta.
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Mental Health Act, legislation, policies, inpatient mental health unit, psychiatry, mental health legislation, nursing role in mental health, Advocacy, Navigating uncertainty, mental health policies, history of mental health, Alberta Mental Health Act, Institutional practice, Informal Conventions
Citation
Mustapha, W. (2024). Exploring how Alberta Health Services nurses are making sense of their role in relation to the recent changes to the Mental Health Act of Alberta (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.