title: Psychiatric mental health nursing: thriving in a changing environment through outcomes-based measurements.
abstract: This article focuses on the necessity of outcomes-based measurements in the behavioral health care field. The authors describe the reasons why outcomes research is essential to the survival of behavioral services and, even more specifically, psychiatric mental health nursing. An actual outcome study process using psychiatric patients treated by a clinical nurse specialist is described in detail. The authors reflect their orientation to outcomes-based measurements through their perspectives as a manager and an outpatient therapist.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Services, FirstHealth of the Carolinas/Moore Regional Hospital, Pinehurst, NC 28374, USA.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manley
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009736:Nursing Process; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*