Close-observation areas in acute psychiatric units: a literature review.
Close-observation areas in Australian inpatient psychiatric units are locked areas usually within an open ward. Despite patient acuity, and the inherent difficulties in this area, little has been written that addresses either the processes or goals of containing patients, the role of nurses, or the skills involved. This paper examines the literature related to close-observation areas and argues that they are highly demanding of expert psychiatric nursing skills. Nurses need to advocate for humane, well-resourced areas, staffed with highly skilled nurses in order to fulfil the obligations of the national nursing and mental health service standards and to reduce the deleterious effects of hospitalization on patients.
O'Brien
Louise
L
University of Western Sydney, School of Nursing, Family and Community Health, Parramatta Campus, Penrith DC, New South Wales, Australia. l.obrien@uws.edu.au
Cole
Rose
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003657:Decision Making; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D016294:Models, Nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration; D019370:Observation / Q000379:methods; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D010356:Patient Isolation / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D018579:Patient Selection; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000941:ethics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control