Emotions and Care
The School of Health in Social Science has a programme of research, knowledge exchange and doctoral supervision to study the central role of emotions in the health and illness experience and their role in education care and professional practice.
The programme draws on social and health sciences and a range of research methodologies to research these issues. The Emotions seminar series jointly hosted by the Nursing Studies, the School of Health in Social Science and the Centre for Research on Families and Relationships and Health in Social Science brings together academics and practitioners from a variety of disciplines and professions.
Case Studies
Callander Postdoctoral Fellowship
The purpose of this post-doctoral fellowship is to develop and undertake a cutting-edge research programme which examines the potential for psychotherapeutic understandings of human relations to inform and enhance contemporary nursing practice. The postdoctoral fellow works with academic staff in both Counselling & Psychotherapy and Nursing Studies within the School of Health in Social Science and with an affiliation with the NHS Lothian clinical-academic research careers scheme.
Postdoctoral Fellow : Mia Nelson ; Mentors : Jonathan Wyatt and Pam Smith
Transition from active to palliative care for children with cancer
This research explored the transition from active treatment to palliative care for children with cancer. Relationships between staff and parents play a key role during the transition. Staff sought and provided emotional support for each other as well as caring for families.
PI: Pam Smith, Co-PI Rachel MacAndrew, Co-I Daniel Kelly and Mia Nelson
Leverhulme Writer in Residence with Nursing Studies
In 2012, Leverhulme Artist in Residence, writer Nicola White spent ten months in Nursing Studies at the University of Edinburgh working with staff and students to reflect on and write about their caring experiences. One of the premises of the project was that emotional empathy was something ‘good nursing’ and ‘good writing’ have in common - i.e. the ability to imagine yourself in the place of another. Nicola’s blog demonstrates how she facilitated staff and students to make that happen.
PI: Pam Smith, Artist in Residence: Ms Nicola White
Nursing at the Extremes
This research arose from an interest in how intensive care staffs manage ‘the body in crisis’ and the ‘edgework’ involved in the emotional labour of critical and intensive psychiatric nursing care.
PI: Pam Smith, Co-Is Deborah Ritchie, Susanne Kean, Pam Ramsay and Jo Dunlevie
Who is involved in emotions and care research?
Pam Smith, Professorial Fellow, Nursing Studies
Rosie Stenhouse, Lecturer, Nursing Studies
Susanne Kean, Lecturer, Nursing Studies
Deborah Ritchie, Honorary Research Fellow , Nursing Studies
PhD Students completing emotions and care research
- Mei-Lin Yang -An Exploration of the Use of Complementary Therapies: the Perspectives of Hospice Palliative Buddhist Chaplains in Taiwan
- Jilly Taylor -Emotional Labour, child protection and support for HVs