Early career mental health nurses' emotional experiences in specialist eating disorder units, Victoria, Australia

The treatment of consumers with eating disorders requires skilled clinicians due to the psychological and medical complexities of the illness. However, a volume of research shows that clinicians report negative feelings, such as anxiety, frustration and anger when providing care for consumers with eating disorders. Limited research explores mental health nurses' experiences working in a specialist eating disorder inpatient unit. This study aimed to explore early career mental health nurses' experiences working in such a unit in Australia. A descriptive qualitative method was used, incorporating a stage of theoretical analysis informed by psychodynamic concepts. A total of six nurses were interviewed. Two key themes emerged: (i) initial tension; (ii) understanding self and others through countertransference. In the first theme, participants commonly reported anxiety and frustration. Frustration often related to the struggle to empathise and feeling powerless to change life-threatening eating behaviours. The second theme explored the understanding of self and others through countertransference. Participants described the inadequacy, anger and anxiety they felt during the interaction with consumers as the projection of another person's inner experience. Nurses' accounts also reflected identification of self to others, in the attempt to understand experiences of consumers. The phenomenon of re-enactment of pre-existing relationships was also raised. The study shows that working with consumers with eating disorders can elicit strong emotional experiences, which early career nurses were able to over time to more usefully explore as countertransference. It is recommended that nurses have appropriate opportunities to discuss and reflect on their feelings in order to develop their practice and professional resilience.

Automated summary

The study explored the experiences of early career mental health nurses working in a specialist eating disorder inpatient unit in Australia. Participants commonly reported feelings of anxiety and frustration when interacting with patients, attempting to understand themselves and others through countertransference. It is recommended that nurses have appropriate opportunities to discuss and reflect on their feelings in order to enhance their practice and professional resilience.