title: [Difficulties in Caring for Psychiatric Patient as Experienced by Non-Psychiatric Nurses].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to identify non-psychiatric nurses' difficulties in caring for patients with mental illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from eighteen general medical-surgical nurses working at a university hospital in Seoul, Korea. This study involved two focus group discussions and three in-depth individual interviews. All interviews were recorded and transcribed as they were spoken, and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  General medical-surgical nurses experienced difficulties in 3 categories, 9 subcategories, 27 codes. The three categories were 'nurse' related factors, 'patient' related factors, 'resource' related factors. The nine categories were 'unpreparedness', 'nursing barriers due to stigma', 'undervaluing and avoidance of psychiatric nursing', 'eroding into the trap of a vicious cycle', 'facing unapproachable patients', 'dealing with unhelpful family members', 'burdening already overburdened staff', 'obstructive environment', and 'isolation of staff with heavy responsibilities'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate the need to develop psychiatric mental health education programs for non-psychiatric nurses. Education about psychiatric mental health and support from institutions for non-psychiatric nurses can reduce their negative attitude toward psychiatric patients and difficulties in caring for psychiatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jaewon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joung
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.|College of Nursing Science and East-West Nursing Research Institute, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jihyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoonhi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing Science and East-West Nursing Research Institute, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea. sunghshin@khu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Sung Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Medical-surgical nursing; Mental disorders; Patients; Psychiatric nursing; Qualitative research