Developing a concept analysis of control for use in child and adolescent mental health nursing

  1. Susan Croom MSc BA(Hons) RGN1,
  2. Susan Procter PhD RGN BSc(Hons) CertEd2,
  3. Ann Le Couteur BSc MBBS FRC Psych FRCPCH3

Article first published online: 25 DEC 2001

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2648.2000.01422.x

Issue

Journal of Advanced Nursing

Journal of Advanced Nursing

Volume 31, Issue 6, pages 1324–1332, June 2000

Additional Information

How to Cite

Croom, S., Procter, S. and Couteur, A. L. (2000), Developing a concept analysis of control for use in child and adolescent mental health nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 31: 1324–1332. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2648.2000.01422.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Senior Lecturer/Practitioner in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Nursing, Newcastle City Health Care Trust and University of Northumbria, England,

  2. 2

    Professor of Nursing Development, University of Northumbria and Newcastle City Health Care Trust, England,

  3. 3

    Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit, Newcastle City Health Care Trust and Newcastle University Medical School, Newcastle, England

* Susan Procter Faculty of Health Social Work and Education, University of Northumbria,, Coach Lane Campus (East), Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7XA, England. E-mail: susan.procter@unn.ac.uk

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 25 DEC 2001
  2. Article first published online: 25 DEC 2001

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Keywords:

  • child and adolescent mental health nursing;
  • concept analysis;
  • control;
  • participative action research;
  • nursing theory

Developing a concept analysis of control for use in child and adolescent mental health nursing

The need to help children and young people with significant mental health problems develop a sense of personal control in their everyday lives, in a manner which does not endanger themselves or others, was recognized by nurse practitioners working in an English regional multidisciplinary child and adolescent mental health residential unit. A concept analysis of control was undertaken and used to develop a framework for analysing control. This deductive framework was modified iteratively by nurses who developed new knowledge from a qualitative exploration of current practice and the application of the evolving framework to practice problems. The paper describes this process and highlights three main findings: (i) the evolving attributes of the concept analysis helped nurses steer a course through the complexities of practice; (ii) the research highlighted and enabled nurses to confront the paradoxical nature of control; (iii) the process enabled nurses to recognize the mutuality of feelings aroused simultaneously when both the nurse and the child are challenged to maintain personal control.

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