title: Evaluating psychiatric nursing competencies applied to emergency settings: A pilot role delineation study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite increasing emergency department (ED) use for psychiatric emergencies, limited evidence exists to clearly identify the competencies necessary of emergency nurses to care for this population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  1. To define the specialized skill and knowledge of emergency nurses by examining the frequency with which recommended psychiatric nursing competencies are performed in the ED setting. 2. To assess emergency nurses' rankings of importance and self-efficacy related to recommended psychiatric nursing competencies in order to explore their relevance to emergency nursing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Emergency nurses (n = 75) completed a survey ranking the frequency, importance and self-efficacy of 15 psychiatric nursing competencies. Data analysis revealed competency relevance and regression analysis demonstrated factors that may contribute to self-efficacy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nurses reported performing psychiatric competencies frequently (mean scores of 0.64 to 3.04). Importance rankings were highest (mean scores of 1.81 to 3.67). Self-efficacy mean scores ranged from 0.89 to 3.47. Frequency and importance of activities predicted higher self-efficacy scores. Younger age and <5 years experience had negative impacts on self-efficacy scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Emergency nurses perform psychiatric competencies often, and existing competencies appear applicable. As frequency and importance of competencies influence self-efficacy, practice and interventions to underscore the importance of competencies may improve self-efficacy. Younger and less experienced nurses might require more support.
authors: Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, University of California, Davis, CA, USA; Emergency Department, Davis Medical Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA. Electronic address: Joanna.mello@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu.
authors: Joanna J
authors: JJ
authors: Mello
authors: Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors: Janice F
authors: JF
authors: Bell
authors: Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors: Elena O
authors: EO
authors: Siegel
authors: Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors: Deborah H
authors: DH
authors: Ward
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Competencies; Emergency; Mental health; Nursing; Psychiatric