title: The nursing of outpatients with a bipolar disorder: what nurses actually do.
abstract: This qualitative study was undertaken to gain insight into the daily practice activities of community psychiatric nurses (CPNs) involved in the nursing of outpatients with bipolar disorders in the Netherlands. Semistructured interviews were undertaken with 23 CPNs, and additional focus group interviews were conducted. Information was gained on the problems encountered by the patients with a bipolar disorder, desired outcomes, interventions used, and the role of the CPNs in the treatment of these outpatients. One of the main conclusions is that a systematic approach to the nursing process is simply lacking. Recommendations for improvement are therefore presented in closing.
authors.affiliation: Adhesie Mental Health Care Midden-Overijssel, Deventer, The Netherlands. p.goossens@adhesie.nl
authors.forename: Peter Jan J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.forename: Titus Andreas Adrianus
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Beentjes
authors.forename: Jacqueline Antoinetta Maria
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: de Leeuw
authors.forename: Elise Alida Maria
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Knoppert-van der Klein
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van Achterberg
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000451:nursing; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D009733:Nursing Diagnosis; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009736:Nursing Process; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010045:Outpatients / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires