Bloomberg Nursing PhD graduate Don Rose is the recipient of the Journal of Forensic Nursing’s Writing Award for Excellence in Research for 2011. His article, “Respect in forensic psychiatric nurse-patient relationships: A practical compromise,” was selected based on its innovation, significance, approach, potential impact, and overall writing.
The winning article discussed a study that analyzed the concept of respect systematically from a forensic psychiatric nurse’s perspective, using the qualitative methodology of focused ethnography. The context of forensic psychiatric nursing is distinct from other psychiatric settings as it involves placement of patients in secure environments with restrictions determined by the courts. Previous literature has identified that nurses morally struggle with respecting patients who have committed heinous offences, which can lead to the patient being depersonalized and dehumanized. Although respect is fundamental to ethical nursing practice, it has not been adequately explored conceptually or empirically. As a result, little knowledge existed that identified how nurses develop, maintain, and express respect for patients. Rose’s data indicates that forensic psychiatric nurses strike a practical compromise in their understanding and enactment of respect in therapeutic relationships with forensic psychiatric patients.
Rose was recently appointed director of the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Ryerson University. He is also an associate professor at the school and has held several positions in clinical practice, administration and education. His research foci include nursing ethics, issues in forensic/mental health nursing, and evaluating the use of technology/simulation in nursing curriculum.