Psychiatric Emergencies and the Potential Role of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners.

Emergency departments (EDs) are experiencing a worsening crisis of overcrowding, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. Persons experiencing psychiatric emergencies must be evaluated medically and screened for risks of harm to self or others before they can be cleared for transfer to inpatient units or discharged. Severe shortages of inpatient psychiatric beds can lead to hours or even days of costly boarding in the ED. The purpose of this article is to examine the potential role of psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners in psychiatric ED care, from initial intake and medical clearance, screening for suicide risk, de-escalation, stabilization, and discharge. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 59(3), 7-12.].

Teaching Professional Boundaries in Psychiatric Nursing: Resource Development.

BACKGROUND: A standard of practice in psychiatric nursing pertains to the ability to maintain professional boundaries within a nurse-patient relationship. Nursing students are inexperienced in maintaining nurse-patient relationships and are at risk of crossing professional boundaries. Research regarding boundary instruction and available resources is needed to guide educators. METHOD: Psychiatric nurse educators (n = 11) and psychiatric nurses (n = 9) were interviewed to determine what resources psychiatric nursing educators use to teach professional boundaries to undergraduate students. Following the interviews and preliminary analysis, eight participants also attended a focus group. RESULTS: Participants reported resources such as textbooks were useful for defining professional boundaries. Participants also described case studies as a resource available to help operationalize boundaries in psychiatric nursing practice. CONCLUSION: Resources should be developed to address changes in care provision and technology to include cultural competence and guidelines for the use of social media. [J Nurs Educ. 2023;62(2):97-100.].

Artificial intelligence: An eye cast towards the mental health nursing horizon.

There has been an international surge towards online, digital, and telehealth mental health services, further amplified during COVID-19. Implementation and integration of technological innovations, including artificial intelligence (AI), have increased with the intention to improve clinical, governance, and administrative decision-making. Mental health nurses (MHN) should consider the ramifications of these changes and reflect on their engagement with AI. It is time for mental health nurses to demonstrate leadership in the AI mental health discourse and to meaningfully advocate that safety and inclusion of end users' of mental health service interests are prioritized. To date, very little literature exists about this topic, revealing limited engagement by MHNs overall. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of AI in the mental health context and to stimulate discussion about the rapidity and trustworthiness of AI related to the MHN profession. Despite the pace of progress, and personal life experiences with AI, a lack of MHN leadership about AI exists. MHNs have a professional obligation to advocate for access and equity in health service distribution and provision, and this applies to digital and physical domains. Trustworthiness of AI supports access and equity, and for this reason, it is of concern to MHNs. MHN advocacy and leadership are required to ensure that misogynist, racist, discriminatory biases are not favoured in the development of decisional support systems and training sets that strengthens AI algorithms. The absence of MHNs in designing technological innovation is a risk related to the adequacy of the generation of services that are beneficial for vulnerable people such as tailored, precise, and streamlined mental healthcare provision. AI developers are interested to focus on person-like solutions; however, collaborations with MHNs are required to ensure a person-centred approach for future mental healthcare is not overlooked.

Gender differences in the experience of burnout and its correlates among Chinese psychiatric nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A large-sample nationwide survey.

Psychiatric nurses often experience burnout and other mental health symptoms. However, few studies have examined these phenomena and gender-specific associated factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. We surveyed a national sample of psychiatric nurses (N = 8971) from 41 tertiary psychiatric hospitals in China as part of a large national survey conducted during the pandemic. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Service Survey was used to assess burnout and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 was used to assess mental health symptoms. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to explore factors associated with burnout in the entire sample and separately by gender. The overall prevalence of burnout was 27.27%, with the rate in male psychiatric nurses (32.24%) being significantly higher than that in female psychiatric nurses (25.97%). Many key demographic factors (such as the male gender and marital status), work-related variables (such as a mid-level professional title, having an administrative position, longer working hours, more monthly night shifts, and the perceived negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical work) were significantly associated with burnout in the whole sample. Moreover, burnout was associated with depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in the whole sample. Gender-specific factors associated with burnout were also identified: burnout was associated with night shifts in male psychiatric nurses, whereas it was associated with single or married marital status, a mid-level professional title, and having an administrative position among female psychiatric nurses. The high rates of burnout and mental health symptoms in psychiatric nurses need attention from hospital administrators. While mental health symptoms, longer working hours, and the perceived impact of COVID-19 are associated with burnout in both genders, gender-specific factors also warrant special attention when developing gender-specific interventions.

A Welcoming Space to Manage Crisis: The Wellness Respite Program.

The need for behavioral health care prevention, treatment, and recovery supports, including crisis alternatives, has grown and is now receiving federal support through enhanced funding. When a person experiences severe emotional distress, crisis alternatives are a viable option instead of inpatient hospitalization to address the distress and restore balance. Peer respite programs are voluntary, short-term, crisis alternatives for people experiencing mental distress. Models have evolved in response to funding and regulatory requirements, yet research is limited. The current article describes a unique peer-led program, Wellness Respite, in operation for 7 years, including data from recent satisfaction surveys and the role of nurses in the program. Implications of a home-like, short-term crisis alternative and the role of the nurse are emphasized. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 60(11), 26-32.].

Can Virtual Simulation Replace Clinical Practical Training for Psychiatric Nursing?

In Korea, virtual simulation is currently replacing clinical practical training for psychiatric nursing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to explore the virtual simulation experiences of nursing students through focus-group interviews. Three categories were derived: 'glad that the patients were not real people', 'bridge between the text world and the real world', and 'supplementations needed for virtual simulation to replace clinical practice'. Although virtual simulation helped acquire knowledge and skills related to psychiatric nursing practice in a safe environment, there were limitations to replacing clinical practice. To overcome this, a diverse approach between students and professors is required.

Patients Hospitalized for Psychiatric Problems and Their Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward COVID-19.

The current study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) of persons hospitalized for psychiatric problems and the correlation between knowledge and demographics. A correlational, cross-sectional study was used to collect data through structured interviews from a convenience sample of 200 patients with psychiatric disorders seeking treatment at a psychiatric hospital using the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices questionnaire. Participants had poor knowledge (51.5%), moderate attitudes (75%), and low to moderate practices (61%) toward COVID-19. Knowledge was different across most demographic and illness-related variables. Global assessment of functioning and educational level predicted knowledge and accounted for 37.5% of the variance. Due to disability and poor self-care, persons hospitalized for psychiatric problems are more vulnerable to infectious diseases than the general population. Mental health nurses need to raise KAP toward COVID-19. Current results are informative to health care policymakers and mental health authorities in helping identify target populations for prevention and education about COVID-19. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 60(8), 37-45.].

Developing mental health nursing strategies for the inbound quarantined population in China during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to develop mental health nursing strategies for the inbound quarantined population based on the results of a survey study and frontline nursing experiences. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A mixed research method was selected, we collected data by questionnaires from 128 quarantined people, and by semi-structured interviews from 5 registered nurses. Generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7), the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) were used in the quantitative research to identify the prevalence of psychological issues and risk factors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in the qualitative study to conclude nursing experiences from RNs. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of anxiety, depression, and insomnia were 34%, 41%, and 18% respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that social support, urban residence, and chronic disease were associated with mental health problems in certain aspects. Three themes were emerged from the analysis of RNs interviews: personality, chronic diseases, and social support. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of mental health issues in the inbound quarantined population was the same as the general population in the initial stage of COVID-19 outbreak, and significantly lower than people who lived in high-risk areas. Living in urban areas, with chronic diseases, and obtaining less social support are the risk factors. Finally, four nursing strategies were proposed by the research team for mental health well-being.

Implementing Trauma-Informed Education Practices in Undergraduate Mental Health Nursing Education.

BACKGROUND: Nursing students may have risk factors for trauma reactivation through learning activities conducted as part of their education and training. Trauma-informed education practices (TIEP) could help reduce this risk. METHOD: Course policies, content, procedures, and support structures consistent with the tenets of TIEP were implemented in undergraduate mental health courses with traditional third-year nursing students at two universities. RESULTS: Students responded positively to the implementation of TIEP. Most (92%) qualitative feedback students provided in formal evaluations was directly related to at least one principle of TIEP, most commonly "promoting social, emotional, and academic safety." Some students (39.3%) interpreted TIEP as demonstrations of "genuine" caring for the students as individuals and their own mental health. CONCLUSION: Integrating TIEP into an undergraduate nursing mental health course is feasible and beneficial and allows faculty to role model skills and values central to nursing practice. [J Nurs Educ. 2021;60(12):707-711.].

Factors influencing knowledge, awareness, and compliance with standard precautions among psychiatric nurses.

This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, awareness, and compliance with standard precautions and to examine individual factors related to compliance with standard precautions among psychiatric nurses. Data were collected from September 2020 to March 2021. A total of 160 questionnaires were distributed, and a total sample of 134 valid questionnaires was analyzed. Compliance with standard precautions was significantly correlated with knowledge and awareness. Awareness (ß = 0.547, p < .001) was a significant factor of compliance with a total explanatory power of 35.0% (F = 7.27, p < .001). Thus, the current coronavirus disease pandemic has significantly influenced the mental health infection system. These findings highlighted that psychiatric nurse must continue their efforts to improve compliance with infection prevention to prepare for an uncertain future with potential pandemics.

Mental health of nurses involved with COVID-19 patients in Japan, intention to resign, and influencing factors.

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between mental health (posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, and burnout) and intention to resign, and influencing factors regarding nurses involved with COVID-19 patients in A Prefecture as subjects.The design is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study.Methods are conducted between August 4 and October 26, 2020. Basic attributes (gender, age, years of experience, etc.) were examined. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Maslach Burnout Inventory, "intent to resign," were used to collect data from nurses working at hospitals treating patients with COVID-19 in Japan.As a result, between 20% and 30% of nurses involved with patients with COVID-19 are in a state of high mental distress. Regarding the associations between psychiatric symptoms and intention to resign, "I want to quit being a nurse" was affected by "cynicism" and "professional efficacy"; "I want to change hospitals/wards" was affected by "cynicism"; and "subthreshold depression," "anxiety disorder," and "burnout" affected "I want to continue working as a nurse." The increase in the number of patients with COVID-19 was a factor affecting mental health and intention to resign. When the number of patients increased, anxiety disorders and intention to resign also increased. Damage from harmful rumors increased the severity of every psychiatric symptom. To prepare for a pandemic such as COVID-19, it is necessary in normal times to construct psychological support systems and community systems to prevent damage from harmful rumors.

Mental Health and Addiction Response: Supporting Nursing Resilience in a Pandemic.

In their paper, Stelnicki and Carleton (2021) highlight both the findings of their 2019 survey of nurses' mental health (Stelnicki et al. 2020) and more recent literature published during the COVID-19 pandemic. This response outlines the role of nursing leaders in enabling the mental health of nurses in a mental health and addiction setting, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.