Morale is high in acute inpatient psychiatry.
BACKGROUND
Morale on acute psychiatric wards has been considered to be problematic, and is reported to contribute to low quality patient care.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship of staff morale to patient, service environment, physical environment, patient routines, conflict, containment, staff demographics, and staff group variables.


METHODS
A multivariate cross sectional study was undertaken collecting data on morale, as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and other variables on 136 acute admission psychiatric wards in England.


RESULTS
Morale was higher than published comparison samples. Length of time in post was correlated with low morale, and qualified nurses had higher emotional exhaustion but also higher personal accomplishment. The level of verbal abuse on a ward was associated with low morale, as was a higher level of social deprivation among patients. Higher levels of order and organisation correlated with better morale.


CONCLUSIONS
Clear policies relating to the management of verbal abuse by patients, high levels of order and organisation, and staff rotation and education, may all support high morale. Acute inpatient psychiatry is generally a happy and rewarding work environment, and identified problems are likely to be due to other factors.
Bowers
Len
L
St Bartholomew School of Nursing and Midwifery, City University, London, E1 2EA, UK. l.bowers@city.ac.uk
Allan
Teresa
T
Simpson
Alan
A
Jones
Julia
J
Whittington
Richard
R
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009013:Morale; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012647:Self-Assessment