title: The role of the psychiatric consultation-liaison nurse in the improved care of patients experiencing mental health problems receiving care within a general hospital environment.
abstract: The Psychiatric Consultation-Liaison Nurse (PCLN) has an imporrtant role in supporting nurses and other health care professionals in caring for patients experiencing mental health problems in a non-psychiatric environment. The limited available research findings suggest the PCLN role to be effective in terms of staff satisfaction, and some suggestion of cost savings is apparent. This paper refers to a survey of the attitudes of health professionals (n-113) too the services provided by the PCLN in a large metropolitan hospital in Melbournre, Australia. The results indicate a high level of satisfaction with the services of the PCLN. Enhancement of the participants' professional role, the professional role of nursing and improving health outcomes was amongst the perceived benefits of the PCLN role.
authors.affiliation: The Centre for Psychiatric Nursing Research and Practice, The University of Melbourne.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sharrock
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Happell
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000592:standards*; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses; D005791:Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing