From Self-Centredness to Person-Centredness

This chapter opens up Part 2 of the book. Part 2 explores the findings of my doctoral study in relation to the conceptual frame created in Part 1. This part is an articulation and exploration of the findings of my research alongside the concepts, ideas, and practices that already punctuate the field, discovering new ways of thinking and practising as a result. This chapter begins by briefly addressing how the study collected and analysed data. Following that, it expresses the vital contribution of the participants of my study to this project. This chapter continues and explores the first of four main themes from my study. The theme Chap. 5 focuses on is ‘from self-centredness to person-centredness.’ Following subheadings that conceptually guide the reader, this chapter outlines how participants reflected on their sense of self and how that relates to others. This chapter presents and discusses evidence that applied drama enhances our ‘knowing self’ and our inherent inter-relationality, and thereby can serve as a medium through which to explore and develop person-centred practice. How interactive and experiential approaches to education invigorate learning on person-centredness is another key element of this chapter. In simple terms, this chapter evidences how engaging in drama practice, with nursing as its concern, we are led to a realisation that our ‘self’ is important for person-centred nursing, and how we relate to ourselves and others as ‘persons’ is perhaps the cornerstone of person-centred practice.