Zwischen Aufsicht und Betreuung

The psychiatric nursing staff faced contradictory demands in the daily life of the institution: on one hand, ensuring discipline and order on the ward, and on the other hand, providing care and understanding for the patients, which was a difficult balancing act that not all caregivers were equally equipped to handle. Violent assaults, work-related illnesses, or addiction problems were symptoms exacerbated by precarious working conditions. Even at the beginning of the 20th century, psychiatric nursing was considered a menial job without respect or competencies. It was only with the establishment of a solid training program, which coincided with the professionalization of psychiatry, that it evolved into a qualified profession. The role and function of nurses changed, and they became indispensable staff members in the new therapeutic methods.