Being a mental health nurse can be a fraught experience, leading the reflective practitioner to question where they sit in relation to fellow nurses, fellow mental health professionals, patients and service users. We may question our position in relation to the broad spectrum of fellow mental health nurse colleagues, who work in a diversity of settings (compare the mental health nurse in a high secure setting with one working in a dementia memory clinic, for example). Whilst some aspects of mental health nursing are tasks, such as completing assessments and administering medication, mental health nurses themselves define the work in terms of forming and maintaining therapeutic relationships, ‘therapeutic use of self’ (Hurley et al, 2009) and ‘being with’ people (Hercelinskyj, 2014). Login using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens for full text. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.