Deliberate self-harm

developing clinical guidelines

Allen, Jon EN, RMN, DipPSN, BA(Hons)
Williamson, Steve RGN, RMN
Gatford, Carol RMN
Worthington, Annie RGN, RMN

Date of acceptance: January 28 1997.
Jon Allen EN, RMN, DipPSN, BA(Hons), was Practice Development Adviser/Trainer at the time of writing this article, The Training Centre, Nottingham Healthcare Trust; Steve Williamson RGN, RMN, is Ward Manager; Carol Gatford RMN, and Annie Worthington RGN, RMN, are staff nurses, Lister Ward, Wells Road Centre, Nottingham.
Acknowledgements Melissa Yates, Deputy Ward Manager, Lister Ward; and Dane Brennan, Ward Manager, A43 Ward, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham; Karen Roach (Design of figures and secretarial support).
This article has been subject to double-blind review.

Nursing Standard 12(3):p 34-37, October 8, 1997.

Nurses in an acute admissions psychiatric ward are using reflective practice to develop clinical guidelines for the management of patients who deliberately self-harm. In this article, they describe the cyclical learning processes and reflective techniques involved.