“They stole our victory” Psychological empowerment among psychiatric sector nurses at Sainte-Marie hospital, Clermont-Ferrand (1969–1999): a historical study

Introduction: In France, the history of psychiatry has largely been written without reference to nurses. The abolition of the psychiatric sector nurse diploma (ISP) in 1992 further reinforced the erasure of a distinct professional identity and its associated knowledge.

Objective: This study aims to trace the trajectories of ISP nurses at Sainte-Marie hospital in Clermont-Ferrand from 1969, the year the diploma was created, to 2000, marking the end of collective mobilizations, in order to analyze the forms of professional empowerment that emerged amid institutional change. Method: A “history from below” approach was adopted, combining life stories, institutional archives, personal documents, and professional materials from the field. Zimmerman’s framework of psychological empowerment was critically applied to guide the analysis. Results: The findings highlight strategies of affirmation, alternative clinical practices, and collective dynamics that reflect historically situated forms of empowerment closely linked to transformations in French psychiatry. Discussion: These results call into question the relevance of Zimmerman’s framework and support a situated interpretation of professional autonomy. Conclusion: This research contributes to the history of nursing in France and offers insights for understanding the current crisis of meaning in psychiatric nursing practice.