1.1.2 The activities of acute admission unit psychiatric nurses: Insights from staff nurses and service users (159)

Declan Patton, Lecturer, School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, University College Dublin, Ireland declan.patton@ucd.ie

Abstract:

This presentation will focus upon findings from a PhD study still in progress. The focus of this PhD was on a critical analysis of the practice of staff nurses in acute psychiatric admission units (acute units) in Ireland from the perspective of staff nurses and service users. Acute unit care has been the topic of much national and international debate as service provision moves from inpatient to community based care. However, there remains the argument that acute units are necessary for the provision of care to people with an acute form of a mental illness and who cannot be cared for within their community, therefore, it is imperative that such units remain active within a mental health service. This presentation will have four strands.

First, data collected from a preliminary fact finding questionnaire distributed to acute unit staff nurses across Ireland will be presented. The questionnaire formed the basis for semi structured interview questions posed to staff nurses in part two of the study. Staff nurses who took part in semi structured interviews volunteered to do so.

Third, data from semi structured interviews with former acute unit service users will be presented. Finally, what findings mean will be discussed in terms of what nursing occurs in acute units and the impact of this nursing on service user care.

Findings and the subsequent discussion will be addressed within these headings: professional practice, ways of managing care, interpersonal relations, use of knowledge in practice and professional development. Recommendations will be made as to how acute unit care can be strengthened and improved.

Biography:

I am a lecturer and Programme Director in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems in University College Dublin. His practice background is in psychiatric nursing. He holds bachelors and masters’ degrees in nursing as well as a post graduate diploma in education. He is currently completing a PhD through the faculty of health in Staffordshire University in the United Kingdom. His PhD study relates to the activities of staff nurses in psychiatric admission units and the impact of nursing activities upon patient care. Declan has published in both nursing and wider healthcare literature.