| The College of
Nurses of Ontario (CNO) defines nursing as the therapeutic relationship
which enables the client to attain, maintain, or regain optimal function
by promoting the client’s health through assessing, providing
care for, and treating the client’s health conditions. This
was reiterated over and over while I was earning my nursing diploma,
something I have dreamt about since a young age. It was apparent that
the students were developing the belief that soon they will lead by
example and be the best caregivers that can be. I, on the other hand,
was not fooled. Knowing the horrors I have been through, while on
the psychiatric ward at a reputable Toronto hospital only three and
a half years earlier, I was well aware of the possibility of any potential
nurse to forgo his/her oath of protecting the clients or to become
an abuser. It became my duty to protect the patients on the floor
from abuse by staff though no one knew about it. My first act of resistance
was a letter of complaint to the CNO about more than ten nurses that
have abused or witnessed abuse. To my surprise, it was met with apathy
and the assertion that if I really wanted to proceed with the complaint,
the most that could happen was a warning to these nurses. My disappointment
was defeating. I developed serious anxieties about working in a profession
that promised quality care and standards of practice while discouraging
anyone from coming forward and reporting abuse. Less than a year after
receiving my registration, I left nursing. I had a new dream now but
had no choice in this one: become an activist. Having participated
in the movement for resistance against psychiatry for almost two years
now, I shared my insight into the conflicts and agreements between
the movement and nursing. I also made suggestions on ways to attract
nurses into the movement. |