The nurse bombarded, consumed and vulnerable: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of mental health nurses' self-care at work.

INTRODUCTION: Self-care is essential for nurses' wellbeing, with stress posing a major barrier. Research into self-care is often absorbed into studies of burnout or resilience. Understanding lived experiences of influences on nurses' self-care practices is essential. There is currently a paucity of literature on this topic.

AIM: To explore mental health nurses' views about what influences their ability to self-care in relation to workplace stress and the impact on their practice and work environment.

METHODS: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis approach was utilized. In-depth interviews explored how nurses perceived the influence of environment and relationships on self-care practices in the workplace.

RESULTS: Participants' perceptions and experiences are embodied by the theme: the nurse bombarded, comprising two subordinate themes-the nurse consumed by the intensity of work and therapeutic relationships; and feeling vulnerable from colleague relationships and feeling undervalued. Participants described conflict between workload demands and expectations and the desire to provide optimal care.

CONCLUSIONS: Stressful working environments pose major barriers to effective self-care. Feeling bombarded and vulnerable, impacts nurses' lives personally and professionally.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Mental health nurses' self-care is crucial for quality practice. Strategies to address relational, personal and environmental barriers to self-care are therefore necessary.