title: Outcomes from the evaluation of an emergency department-based mental health nurse practitioner outpatient service in Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate an emergency department (ED)-based mental health nurse practitioner (MHNP) outpatient service in Sydney, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data collection incorporated waiting times for follow-up outpatient appointments, two brief self-report measures (the K-10 measure of psychological distress and the General Self-Efficacy Scale), a satisfaction tool, and interviews conducted with a random selection of outpatients and a stratified, purposive sample of ED staff.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over 60% of outpatients were followed up within 5 days of their initial presentation. The mean K-10 score at baseline was 32 (very high psychological distress, n = 101) but this had decreased by two categories to 24 at follow-up (moderate psychological distress, n = 51). There was a modest association between decreased psychological distress and an increase in perceived self-efficacy. Participant satisfaction with aspects of the outpatient service was generally rated as high to very high. Interviewed outpatients (n = 23) were particularly positive about the accessibility, immediacy, and flexibility of the service and overall therapeutic benefits. Emergency staff (n = 20) considered the outpatient service enhanced service provision by facilitating access to a population of patients who were previously underserved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ED-based MHNP role enhances access to specialized mental health care and also supports emergency staff.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia. timothy.wand@sswahs.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wand
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Patching
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists; D055815:Young Adult