Purpose@#The purpose of this study is to identify and prioritize educational
needs for
psychiatric nursing competencies among 142 non-psychiatric
nurses from
general hospitals. @*
Methods@#Data were collected from November 13 to 19 2022 through
self-administered
questionnaires consisting of
measures of
psychiatric nursing competencies. Data were analyzed using descriptive
statistics, paired t-test, Borich's
needs assessment model, and the Locus for Focus model to determine the priority of educational
needs. @*Results@#Non-psychiatric
nurses reported that enhancing skills in
psychiatric nursing were more significant than improving
knowledge and
attitude using Borich’s
Needs Assessment Model and the Locus for Focus Model. The highest priority educational
needs were ‘Skill to distinguish whether symptoms in psychiatric
patients are symptoms of
mental illness or side effects of psychiatric
drugs’, ‘Skill to calm and supportive
communication in psychiatric
emergency when psychiatric
patients are at
risk of harm’, ‘
Attitude to remain calm about the psychotic
behaviors of psychiatric
patients’, and ‘
Knowledge of non-
therapeutic communication that interferes with effective
communication with psychiatric
patients’. These items should be considered as priorities among the 39 items to improve
psychiatric nursing competencies. @*Conclusion@#Results of this study suggest that developing intervention programs to enhance
psychiatric nursing competencies are needed among non-psychiatric
Nurses.