RESUMO
Child/youth problems and psychiatric hospitalizations are increasing. A literature review suggests that there is an increased need for more nurses with the knowledge and skills necessary to work in this specialty area. The review also suggests that providing psychiatric nursing consultation services is one way to help direct care staff to strengthen or develop these skills. The authors describe a consultation project that took place on a newly developed 15-bed adolescent program in a 30-bed private psychiatric hospital. They examine the effectiveness of consultation sessions, ascertained through both verbal and written evaluations of staff members. The outcome suggests that psychiatric nursing consultation services can be an important contribution in expanding the knowledge base of direct care staff (child care specialists and nurses) who work with the hospitalized adolescent psychiatric patient.
