Violante Augusta

PRACTICES IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES: INTERFACE WITH PROFESSIONALS' SATISFACTION 1

This study aims at investigating the perceptions and feelings concerning professional practices in mental health services and is focused on issues related to work satisfaction. This is a descriptive study based on a qualitative approach which has been developed through three communitarian services involving 29 professionals. Empirical material was gathered though the target group. Once the content analysis was completed, the results were directed at the perceptions of professional practices, also highlighting all experienced dilemmas and obstacles related to work satisfaction. These obstacles serve to expose all of the difficulties faced by workers in light of requirements stemming from Brazilian Psychiatric Reform ideals which cause them to feel paralyzed, and also the lack of resources required to support professional practices. All of these factors exemplify an extreme situation - living and coping with the distressing feeling of being unable to accomplish their work as they believe it should be done. DESCRIPTORS: Mental health. Professional practice. Community mental health services.

Componentes funcionales de la teoría de Peplau y su confluencia con el referencial de grupo

To facilitate nurses’ application of nursing theories, theories must be analyzed and disseminated. This study aimed to analyze the functional components of Paplau’s Theory of Nursing among chemical dependent participants. The analysis of the theory was based on Meleis’s model. The results of this analysis provided more than an understanding of the functional components of this theory; the results included the appropriateness and utilization of Paplau’s theory to provide care to dependent chemical clients. keywords: Nursing theory; Mental health; Interpersonal relations; Models, nursing