Nursing troubles: internal tensions

Abstract

Just as one set of external pressures were putting an increasing strain on the Health Service, and hence on nurses, so a different set of social forces were causing tensions within nursing itself. Clashes of values and interest were being fought out. We illustrate these tensions in Figure 3.1. Few were new but several took on greater significance during the period of our field work. Together these conflicts complicated professional and managerial relationships at every level.