Managerialist Professionalism: The Destruction of a Non‐conforming Subculture

This paper explores the complex relationship between professionalism and managerialism in the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK and argues that professional aspiration now embraces the managerial paradigm. More specifically, it describes a subculture – that of permanent night nurses – which endures a schematic difference from the now dominant day nurse culture, and is in imminent danger of extinction. It is held in contempt by many nursing professionals and managers whose agendas converge to form the unified template which informs their action. It is suggested that night nurses, marginalized and powerless, are a subculture with distinct native‐view characteristics. Ward‐based, like their day colleagues, but separated by a temporal divide, permanent night nurses recognize their difference, largely reject the new managerialist professionalism, feel unappreciated and cling to their perceived camaraderie and close patient‐relationships. This research explores the nature and origins of the new managerialist nursing profession and examines the basis of its claims of professionalism. The ethnographic methodology and research design are outlined and considerable data are presented. The paper draws upon the arguments of fellow professionals and managers who seek to deny the right of existence to this group. It is argued that ‘atrocity stories’ and other discourse, are evidence of evolving closure criteria, which exclude this apparently non‐conforming subcultural group.