Abstract
This critical commentary examines what I have achieved in my 45-year career
in mental health nursing in Hong Kong and my unique role in the profession’s
development. The motivation for pursuing this doctoral programme stems from
a strong personal connection to the profession, an awareness of the lack of
historical accounts of mental health nursing in Hong Kong, and a desire to
document my journey as both a participant and a contributor to the history of
my profession.
I have utilised autoethnography as a methodological approach to explore my
professional journey. This commentary explores how I overcame challenges
in my career and enhanced and adapted my professional practice. I have used
‘I’ and ‘we’ in the narrative to reflect on my personal experiences and the
collective journey of my profession. Data have been collected from various
sources, including archival materials, personal communications, testimonials,
and my reflections. These diverse sources help to establish connections
between myself, my role in the mental health nursing profession, and my
Chinese culture.
In this autoethnography, I highlight the important contributions of nurse leaders
in developing the mental health nursing profession. Additionally, I emphasise
that mental health nurses’ roles are shaped not only by their professional
expertise but also significantly by their organisation and societal perceptions
of their roles.