title: The conceptualization of impulsivity for psychiatric nursing practice.
abstract: This article conceptualizes impulsivity from the perspective of psychiatric nurses in the inpatient setting. A theoretical model of the nature and the process of impulsivity is developed phenomenologically from information obtained from psychiatric nurses and patient chart reviews. The impulsive event is characterized by three elements: (1) precipitants of the behavior, (2) characteristics of the impulsive event, and (3) staff response. The expression of these elements differentiates impulsivity according to patient domains of psychotic and nonpsychotic illnesses. The emerging differentiation provides the opportunity to develop distinct nursing interventions that target the impulsivity within each of these domains.
authors: Department of Nursing, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Gallop
authors: E
authors: E
authors: McCay
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Esplen
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012307:Risk Factors