title: The experience and views of mental health nurses regarding nursing care delivery in an integrated, inpatient setting.
abstract: Positive and effective consumer outcomes hinge on having in place optimal models of nursing care delivery. The aim of this study was to ascertain the experience and views of mental health nurses, working in hospitals in an area mental health service, regarding nursing care delivery in those settings. Surveys (n = 250) were sent to all mental health nurses working in inpatient settings and 118 (47%) were returned. Results showed that the quality of nursing care achieved high ratings (by 87%), and that two-thirds of respondents were proud to be a mental health nurse and would choose to be a mental health nurse again. Similarly, the majority (71%) would recommend mental health nursing to others. Concern was, however, expressed about the continuity and consistency of nursing work and information technology resources. Nurses with community experiences rated the importance of the following items, or their confidence, higher than those without previous community placements: the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork; the importance of participating in case review; the importance of collaborating with community staff; confidence in performing mental state examinations; and confidence in collaborating with community staff, suggesting that this placement had positive effects on acute care nursing.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Central Sydney Area Mental Health Service (CSAMHS), University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. michelle.cleary@email.cs.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.forename: Garry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009517:New South Wales; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires