Abstract

With its roots immersed in symbolic interactionism, identity theory contends that one’s concept of self is composed of multiple identities within one’s social structure, and that the experiences within one’s role identity are important for emotional and psychological wellbeing. Identity theory provides a firm conceptual linkage between self-esteem and psychological distress – a concept termed here, the fractured self. This paper reports on current research being undertaken (Orrock, in progress) which explores the role identity of the senior nurse manager and argues that the health care reform agenda, commenced in the mid-1980s, signalled the deconstruction and subsequent demise of the role identity of the Nightingale matron? With reference to the emergent themes from the research, this paper will illuminate our concept of ‘the fractured self’.