Meanings of state hospital nursing II: Coping and making meaning

The purpose of this study was to describe the meaning of work for nurses em ployed in two state psychiatric hospitals. A companion article, "Meanings o f State Hospital Nursing I: Facing Challenges", (Archives of Psychiatric Nu rsing, 13(1), 48-54), describes the study methods and the findings regardin g the challenges in clinical decision making, personal control, and maintai ning professional standards that nurses face in state hospital nursing. Thi s article focuses on the ways that nurses meet the challenges, cope, and ma ke meaning. These methods include taking pride in being able to cope with t he challenges, maintaining watchfulness, narrowing of focus, valuing the id eal when it does occur, and constructing personal meanings. The article con cludes with suggestions for supporting and enhancing the ways in which nurs es cope and make meaning in their daily work in state hospitals. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company.