Non-psychiatric Nurses Research Articles

Daily experiences of non-psychiatric nurses in acute psychiatric wards.

To explore and describe the daily experiences of non-psychiatric nurses working in selected acute psychiatric wards in South Africa. A qualitative explorative and descriptive study design was used. Individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from fifteen non-psychiatric nurses with a minimum of one month of experience working in acute psychiatric wards in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Data were analysed using eight Tech techniques. The study is reported following consolidation criteria for reporting qualitative research. Findings on non-psychiatric nurses' daily experience revealed three themes: (1) Unsafe working environment, (2) Managing difficulties due to lack of skills and (3) Strategies to support non-psychiatric nurses in acute psychiatric wards. Findings suggested institutional and managerial interventions in the form of orientation, in-service training and workshops and resource provision. Future studies should be done to develop a model for supporting non-psychiatric nurses in Limpopo Province, South Africa's acute psychiatric wards.

Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Depression Among a Sample of Iraqi Non-Psychiatric Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction Nurses, comprising the largest profession in healthcare, play a significant role in the identification and management of mental health disorders in hospitals. Objectives The study assessed the knowledge and attitudes of non-psychiatric nurses and their encounters with depressive patients throughout their careers. Methods This was a cross-sectional descriptive study with 400 non-psychiatric nurses from different hospitals in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq during October and November 2022. The independent Student's t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and binary logistic regression were used to assess possible factors associated with knowledge and attitude toward depression. Results In this study, 400 non-psychiatric nurses were examined, revealing a mean age of 31.57 ± 8.59 years. Their mean scores for knowledge and attitude toward depression were 5.41 out of a maximum of 11 (standard deviation 1.15) and 5.15 out of 18 (standard deviation 1.83), respectively. Notably, differences in mean knowledge scores were observed concerning participant marital status ( P = .044), while disparities in mean attitude scores are related to participant gender ( P = .010). Upon binary logistic regression analysis, none of the independent variables exhibited an association with good knowledge. Nevertheless, gender emerged as a significant factor influencing attitude toward depression (odds ratio: 0.51; 95% confidence interval: 0.30–0.86; P = .012). Subsequently, in the multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, gender sustained significance (adjusted odds ratio: 0.573; 95% confidence interval: 0.348–0.942; P = .028) as the key variable impacting attitudes toward depression among non-psychiatric nurses. Conclusion Based on the results of this study, nurses have insufficient awareness and management skills for depression. It has been experienced and reported that nurses lack knowledge and an attitude toward depression management. The study highlights a significant gap in nurses’ skills for managing depression, urging the immediate improvement of training programs. Customizing these programs to enhance nurses’ abilities in identifying and managing depression is crucial.

The attitudes of nonpsychiatric nurses towards mental disorders in China.

Few studies have explored the associated factors of attitudes of nonpsychiatric nurses towards mental disorders. Therefore, this study is aimed to evaluate the attitudes of nonpsychiatric nurses towards mental disorders and especially explore the association between psychiatric clinical practice and these attitudes. A total of 1324 nonpsychiatric nurses and students majoring in nursing were recruited through an online questionnaire from December 2021 to March 2022 in Sichuan Province, China. Demographic information, personal care experience, psychiatric nursing education and the Community Attitudes towards the Mentally Ill (CAMI) were collected. A higher score indicates a stigmatizing attitude in the authoritarianism and social restrictiveness (SR) subscales and a positive attitude in the benevolence and community mental health ideology (CMHI) subscales. Multivariate linear regression was employed to analyze associated factors of attitudes towards mental disorders, and hierarchical linear regression was used to analyze the association between psychiatric clinical practice and the attitudes towards mental disorders. Under the control of confounders, high education level, long residence in urban and personal care experience were positively correlated with score of authoritarianism and SR (p < 0.05), and negatively correlated with score of benevolence (p < 0.05). Long residence in urban and personal care experience were negatively correlated with score of CMHI (p < 0.05). Hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that after adjusting for demographic information, psychiatric clinical practice was associated with lower score of benevolence (B = -0.09, 95%CI = -0.17 ~ -0.003, p = 0.043) and CMHI (B = -0.09, 95%CI = -0.17 ~ -0.01, p = 0.027), but the initial associations between psychiatric clinical practice and authoritarianism, SR disappeared. High education level, long residence in urban, personal care experience and the psychiatric clinical practice were associated with the discrimination of nonpsychiatric nurses towards mental disorders. Further exploring practical strategies to optimize the psychiatric clinical practice experience of nonpsychiatric nurses could help improve their attitudes towards mental disorders.

Survey of knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes toward suicide prevention among nursing staff

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes toward suicide prevention among nurses with different demographic characteristics.MethodsA cross-sectional descriptive design was adopted, and the study was conducted between August and September 2020. The content of the questionnaire included basic demographics, knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes toward suicide prevention. Correlation analysis was performed to determine nurses’ knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes toward suicide prevention.ResultsThe sample comprised 778 nursing staff from a medical center in southern Taiwan. The results showed that age, years of nursing experience, department type, education on suicide prevention, and care experience of nursing staff were associated with their knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes toward suicide prevention in general hospital patients. Younger and less experienced nurses demonstrated superior knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes toward suicide prevention. Nurses who received suicide-related education and training exhibited better self-efficacy and attitudes than those who did not. Nurses with care experience had better knowledge of suicide prevention than those without experience. Knowledge and self-efficacy in suicide prevention were both significantly and positively correlated with attitudes.ConclusionYounger, less experienced, psychiatric nurses demonstrated superior knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes toward suicide prevention. Therefore, education on suicide prevention should be strengthened for older, experienced, and non-psychiatric nurses.

Mental health literacy of Chinese nurses from public general and psychiatric hospitals: a cross-sectional study.

Mental health literacy (MHL) is crucial to address issues related to mental illness. Nurses' MHL is even more important because they are expected to deal with both the physical and psychological consequences of mental disorders. This study investigated the level, discrepancy, and characteristics of MHL among Chinese nurses from both public general and psychiatric hospitals; identified influential factors; and explored the relationship between MHL and mental health status. Using a stratified cluster sampling method to select participants, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to describe the MHL of 777 nurses from 13 general and 12 psychiatric hospitals using the Chinese version of the Mental Health Literacy Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-2, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2, and a demographic questionnaire. A multiple regression analysis was used to determine the factors influencing MHL among the nurses recruited. The participants' total score on the Chinese version of the Mental Health Literacy Scale was 93.25 (SD = 10.52). Multiple regression analysis revealed that nurses who worked in psychiatric or higher-level hospitals, with higher professional titles or higher education had higher levels of overall MHL and core MHL, while those working in general hospitals, with shorter work duration, or who were unmarried had higher social acceptance of patients. Nurses' MHL was closely correlated with their mental health status. The overall and core MHL of Chinese nurses were at a moderate level, with social acceptance remaining at a relatively low level. There is an urgent need for MHL promotion programs to improve the MHL of clinical nurses. The focus must be given to overall MHL, especially core MHL, for non-psychiatric nurses to enhance their competence in mental health promotion and identification; more emphasis should be placed on the social acceptance of patients with mental illnesses for psychiatric nurses to improve their provision of professional services. Better MHL would be a formula for improving nurses' own mental health and their mental health service competence.

Educational Needs for Psychiatric Nursing Competencies among Non-Psychiatric Nurses

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify and prioritize educational needs for psychiatric nursing competencies among 142 non-psychiatric nurses from general hospitals.Methods: Data were collected from November 13 to 19 2022 through self-administered questionnaires consisting of measures of psychiatric nursing competencies. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test, Borich's needs assessment model, and the Locus for Focus model to determine the priority of educational needs.Results: Non-psychiatric nurses reported that enhancing skills in psychiatric nursing were more significant than improving knowledge and attitude using Borich’s Needs Assessment Model and the Locus for Focus Model. The highest priority educational needs were ‘Skill to distinguish whether symptoms in psychiatric patients are symptoms of mental illness or side effects of psychiatric drugs’, ‘Skill to calm and supportive communication in psychiatric emergency when psychiatric patients are at risk of harm’, ‘Attitude to remain calm about the psychotic behaviors of psychiatric patients’, and ‘Knowledge of non-therapeutic communication that interferes with effective communication with psychiatric patients’. These items should be considered as priorities among the 39 items to improve psychiatric nursing competencies.Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that developing intervention programs to enhance psychiatric nursing competencies are needed among non-psychiatric Nurses.

Professional quality of life among psychiatric and non-psychiatric nurses in Jeddah

Professional quality of life among psychiatric and non-psychiatric nurses in Jeddah

Update on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Implications for Acute and Critical Care APRNs.

Update on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Implications for Acute and Critical Care APRNs.

Hospital Nurse Competency to Care for Patients With Behavioral Health Concerns: A Follow-Up Study.

Nonpsychiatric nurses care for hospital patients with behavioral health (BH) conditions. This study found BH care competencies of hospital nurses slightly changed from those 9 years earlier. On average, nurses reported moderate to strong perceived competence about assessing/intervening and accessing resources to care for BH patients. They perceived less competence in recommending psychotropic drugs for patients who may need them. Staff development programs that aim to enhance nurse BH care competencies are needed.

Inpatient Suicide Second Victim Experience and Support Tool: Psychometric properties of a scale for nurses who experienced inpatient suicide at Chinese general hospitals.

This study describes a psychometric scale, the Inpatient Suicide Second Victim Experience and Support Tool, for evaluating physical and psychological distress with a focus on resources for supporting the needs of nursing professionals. Our study defines "second victim" as a nurse who experiences inpatient suicide while on shift. We conducted a cross-sectional study among non-psychiatric nurses to examine the psychometrics of the scale. A total of 731 participants were recruited from eight Chinese general hospitals for this research. Data were analyzed by exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to examine the reliability and validity of the scale. The results indicated adequate indices resulting in 21 items. The final structure for the scale was categorized into five domains: psychosomatic distress, support from family and friends, work-related support, organizational support, and professional self-efficacy. The total variance explained was 69.06%. Cronbach's alpha was 0.869 overall, and ranged from 0.626 to 0.914 for the five dimensions. The test-retest reliability of 0.792 for the entire scale was also acceptable. The scale shows promise for use by healthcare organizations to identify second victims and promote necessary organizational support interventions in Chinese hospitals.

Nurses’ Attitudes and Perceptions towards Hand Hygiene in Mental Health and Medical Inpatient Settings: Comparative, Cross-Sectional Study

Poor hand hygiene is a major contributor to hospital acquired infection. In this study, a comparison of the related attitudes of psychiatric and non-psychiatric nurses was made using a cross-sectional survey design. N = 79 nurses who work in psychiatric or non-psychiatric hospital wards completed questionnaires regarding intended compliance with hand-washing protocols and potential cognitive predictors of compliance. Perceived ease of compliance and behavioural norms, and working in a non-psychiatric ward, predicted superlative intended compliance. Working in psychiatry did not in itself predict outgroup membership suggesting that psychiatric ward-related factors, rather than psychiatric nurse-related factors are most relevant in determining between-group differences. Consideration of factors unique to psychiatry wards during service design could improve compliance.

Effects of nursing work environment on work-related outcomes among psychiatric nurses: A mediating model.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: The shortage of psychiatric nurses has become a focus problem attracting widespread concern. And the continuous improvement of quality of psychiatric care has always been a priority in psychiatric units. Previous studies about nurses from general hospitals indicated nursing work environment was a key factor affecting work-related outcomes, but little attention was paid to psychiatric nurses and few studies focused on the five specific dimensions of nursing work environment. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Nurse participation in hospital affairs was the dimension with the highest proportion of participants dissatisfied. Nursing work environment and all its five dimensions had significant effects on work-related outcomes, which were partly mediated by work engagement. For nurse-perceived quality of care, collegial nurse-physician relations showed the largest effect; while for turnover intention, the two dimensions of nurse participation in hospital affairs and nursing foundations for quality of care showed larger effects. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Corresponding measures should be taken to improve nursing work environment, especially in the aspect of nurse participation in hospital affairs by promoting nurses' ability to participate, arousing their motivation to participate and offering them more opportunities to participate. Harmonious collegial relationship should be built by creating an atmosphere of equality, respect and collaboration, and enhancing the communication between doctors and nurses. Nursing foundations for quality of care need to be further improved through setting appropriate rules and regulations to ensure the quality of care and offering more opportunities to support nursing staff's growth and development. ABSTRACT: Introduction With the increasing demand for high-quality psychiatric care, it is imperative to improve psychiatric nurses' work engagement and work-related outcomes. Nursing work environment has been identified as a protective factor in non-psychiatric nurses, but little was known about psychiatric nurses. Aims To identify the situation of nursing work environment, work engagement, nurse-perceived quality of care and turnover intention among psychiatric nurses, and examine the relationship among them. Methods A cross-sectional design was adopted. Questionnaire investigation was implemented among psychiatric nurses from 43 clinical units. Structural equation modelling and path analysis were used to examine the causal relationship among variables. Results The results showed 19.06% of participants were not satisfied with the overall work environment and 24.34% were not satisfied with the dimension of nurse participation in hospital affairs. Hypothesis testing results indicated that nursing work environment and its five dimensions had positive effects on nurse-perceived quality of care and negative effects on turnover intention, which were both partly mediated by work engagement. Discussion Supportive nursing work environment could improve nurses' work engagement, enhance nurse-perceived quality of care and reduce nurses' turnover intention. Implications for Practice Continuous efforts should be paid to the improvement of nursing work environment in psychiatric hospitals.

Malaysian Nurses' Attitudes Toward Suicide and Suicidal Patients: A Multisite Study.

The aim of this study was to examine Malaysian nurses' attitudes toward suicide. Nurses from five hospitals participated in this study. Studying the attitudes of nurses toward suicidal patients and its application to nursing professional development practitioners is an important topic. Most nurses were agreeable to assuming responsibility and to be trained in suicide prevention. Suicide-related training should focus on improving the attitudes of nonpsychiatric nurses, those with no experience in caring for suicidal patients, and those with less nursing experience, all of whom reported more negative attitudes toward suicidal patients.

Non-Psychiatric Nurses' Perceived Self-Efficacy After an Educational Intervention on Suicide Prevention and Care.

Potential for suicide risk can be a safety concern for patients in all health care settings. Inadequate training of nurses in suicide assessment and prevention is a serious patient safety concern. A non-randomized pre-/postintervention research design was used to measure the effects of education on non-psychiatric nurses' perceived self-efficacy in assessment and inquiry about suicide risk and in implementing suicide prevention strategies. The intervention was an educational module about suicide prevention and care delivered to non-psychiatric nurses employed on a neuro-trauma unit in an acute care urban hospital setting. Statistically significant increases occurred in the non-psychiatric nurse's self-efficacy in caring for the patient at risk for suicide. The outcomes of this project offer an important contribution to future research in the area of education about suicide prevention and care for non-psychiatric nurses, promoting safer outcomes for patients. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 56(6), 43-51.].

Patient Aggression and the Wellbeing of Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study in Psychiatric and Non-Psychiatric Settings.

Wellbeing of nurses is associated with patient aggression. Little is known about the differences in these associations between nurses working in different specialties. We aimed to estimate and compare the prevalence of patient aggression and the associations between patient aggression and the wellbeing of nurses in psychiatric and non-psychiatric specialties (medical and surgical, and emergency medicine). A sample of 5288 nurses (923 psychiatric nurses, 4070 medical and surgical nurses, 295 emergency nurses) participated in the study. Subjective measures were used to assess both the occurrence of patient aggression and the wellbeing of nurses (self-rated health, sleep disturbances, psychological distress and perceived work ability). Binary logistic regression with interaction terms was used to compare the associations between patient aggression and the wellbeing of nurses. Psychiatric nurses reported all types of patient aggression more frequently than medical and surgical nurses, whereas nurses working in emergency settings reported physical violence and verbal aggression more frequently than psychiatric nurses. Psychiatric nurses reported poor self-rated health and reduced work ability more frequently than both of the non-psychiatric nursing groups, whereas medical and surgical nurses reported psychological distress and sleep disturbances more often. Psychiatric nurses who had experienced at least one type of patient aggression or mental abuse in the previous year, were less likely to suffer from psychological distress and sleep disturbances compared to medical and surgical nurses. Psychiatric nurses who had experienced physical assaults and armed threats were less likely to suffer from sleep disturbances compared to nurses working in emergency settings. Compared to medical and surgical nurses, psychiatric nurses face patient aggression more often, but certain types of aggression are more common in emergency settings. Psychiatric nurses have worse subjective health and work ability than both of the non-psychiatric nursing groups, while their psychiatric wellbeing is better and they have less sleep problems compared to medical and surgical nurses. Psychiatric nurses maintain better psychiatric wellbeing and experience fewer sleep problems than non-psychiatric nurses after events of exposure to patient aggression. This suggest that more attention should be given to non-psychiatric settings for maintaining the wellbeing of nurses after exposure to patient aggression.

Care Burden for Mental Illness Patients, Attitude toward Mental Illness and Psychiatric Nursing Competency in Non-psychiatric Nurses

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to identify the level of care burden for patients with mental illness, attitudes toward mental illness and psychiatric nursing competency in non-psychiatric nurses and to identify correlations among these variables. Methods: Data were collected from 153 non-psychiatric nurses who worked at a hospital located in Seoul, Korea. Care burden for mental illness patients, attitudes toward mental illness, and psychiatric nursing competency were measured using structured questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe? test and Pearson`s correlation coefficients with the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. Results: Non-psychiatric nurses` care burden for mental illness patients showed negative correlations with attitude toward mental illness (r=-.50, p<.001) and intervention competency (r=-.31, p<.001). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that effective nursing care for patients with mental illness in non-psychiatric departments requires enhancing nurses` competency in psychiatric nursing and developing positive attitudes toward mental illness.

Difficulties in Caring for Psychiatric Patient as Experienced by Non-Psychiatric Nurses

The purpose of this study was to identify non-psychiatric nurses' difficulties in caring for patients with mental illness. Data were collected from eighteen general medical-surgical nurses working at a university hospital in Seoul, Korea. This study involved two focus group discussions and three in-depth individual interviews. All interviews were recorded and transcribed as they were spoken, and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. General medical-surgical nurses experienced difficulties in 3 categories, 9 subcategories, 27 codes. The three categories were 'nurse' related factors, 'patient' related factors, 'resource' related factors. The nine categories were 'unpreparedness', 'nursing barriers due to stigma', 'undervaluing and avoidance of psychiatric nursing', 'eroding into the trap of a vicious cycle', 'facing unapproachable patients', 'dealing with unhelpful family members', 'burdening already overburdened staff', 'obstructive environment', and 'isolation of staff with heavy responsibilities'. The results of this study indicate the need to develop psychiatric mental health education programs for non-psychiatric nurses. Education about psychiatric mental health and support from institutions for non-psychiatric nurses can reduce their negative attitude toward psychiatric patients and difficulties in caring for psychiatric patients.

The Relation Between the Nurses' Difficulties About Care for People with Mental Disorder in General Wards and Their Negative Feeling About Hospitalization of the People.

The aim of this study was to explore the relations between nurses' difficulties in caring for persons living with mental disorders and negative feeling about hospitalization of these persons in general wards. Out of 150 nurses working in a local general hospital in Japan, 86 were eligible for this study. Exploratory factor analysis of the question items for symptoms and conditions with which the nurses had difficulty revealed two principal factors: symptoms like psychosis and neurosis. These factors were then compared in terms of the attitudes that nurses had toward hospitalizing those persons with mental disorders. The greater the negative attitudes toward hospitalizing the persons with mental disorders, the greater the difficulty in caring for them. It is thought that symptoms like psychosis were considered to be caused by schizophrenia, epilepsy, and dementia, and symptoms like neurosis were caused by mood disorder, personality disorder and depression. These principal factors seemed to be with two different difficulties. One is about dealing with their symptoms, another is to distinguish them. Non-psychiatric nurses seemed to be working without confidence in caring for those with mental health disorders. We thought the workloads were increased by symptoms like psychosis and mental burdens on nurses as emotional labors were increased by symptoms like neurosis. Therefore, it is necessary for nurses working in general wards to improve the consultation support system about mental disorders.

Associative Stigma Related to Psychiatric Nursing Within the Nursing Profession

This study deals with stigmas towards mental illness, individuals with mental illness, psychiatric nurses, and the role of psychiatric nursing within the nursing profession. Responses from 108 psychiatric nurses and 108 non-psychiatric nurses indicated that stigmas towards mental illness, individuals with mental illness, and the role of psychiatric nursing, are more prevalent among non-psychiatric nurses; associations between these stigmas were found among both psychiatric and non-psychiatric nurses. The findings suggest that both psychiatric and non-psychiatric nurses harbor associative stigma related to the practice of psychiatric nursing. Implications are discussed.

Prevalence of Nurses' Smoking Habits in Psychiatric and General Hospitals in China

This study determined the prevalence of lifetime and current smoking and the correlates of current smoking in nurses working in psychiatric and general hospitals in China. Of 807 distributed questionnaires, 799 nurses who were working in two psychiatric hospitals (n=387, 48.4%), and one general hospital (n=412, 51.6%) had analyzable data. Socio-demographic, alcohol use and smoking data were collected with a self-reported questionnaire. Work-related stress was evaluated with the Nurse Stress Inventory. In the whole sample, the lifetime smoking prevalence was 7.6% (females=2.1% vs. males=48.9%, p<0.0001; psychiatric nurses=14.5% vs. non-psychiatric nurses=1.2%, p<0.0001). The prevalence of current smoking was 7.1% (females=2.1% vs. males=44.7%, p<0.0001; psychiatric nurses=13.4% vs. non-psychiatric nurses=1.2%, p<0.0001). In a multiple logistic regression analysis, age 30 years or older, male gender, having children, being a psychiatric nurse and alcohol consumption were positively associated with smoking, while being a nursing officer was negatively associated with smoking (r2 = 0.513, p<0.0001). Considering the harmful effects of smoking as well as second-hand smoking in the presence of children, effective measures to promote smoking cessation for male, older and psychiatric nurses and those with children are warranted.