The need for the best and most
current quality nursing care for psychiatric patients is well documented.
However, there is not a lot of evidence for what could be considered “proper
nursing care” for the psychiatric patient. According to the article, “An
Analysis of Three Years of Published Research,” a lot of nursing care with
patients with mental illnesses comes from unsystematic trial and error,
tradition, and authority. This article outlines a study of 227 published data-based
studies, where 5 major research foci were found: global perspective,
psychiatric nurses as subjects, studies of family caregivers, research with
clients across the life span, and testing of nursing interventions. The overall
stigma of mental health is not healthy; it’s shameful to have a diagnosed
mental illness and many individuals do not seek for or unable to obtain the
needed treatment and may lose their home or commit suicide. But there are ways
to prevent this from happening by working to change the stigma around mental
health, offering better psychiatric care, involvement of families and the
community, and improving nurse-client relationships.
In regards to the
evidenced based practices for improving overall mental health, the most
important factors that should be addressed include: reduction in suicide rates
of those with mental disorders and in the general population, reduction of
suicide rates in adolescents, reduction in the number of homeless persons with
mental disorders, finding ways to increase employments in those with mental
health disorders, expansion of treatment of those with a mental illness and the
promotion health screening in those at risk for and with a history of mental
illnesses. The article also states that the process of developing evidence-based
nursing practice begins with questions about the specific patient or a
situation. Gathering basic assessment data results in unique and individual
treatment for each patient to best suit his or her needs in ways that are
personal and more effective according to proven evidence.
In order to promote
evidence-based practice in psychiatric nursing, its important to increase the
number of psychiatric nurse researchers, delving deeper into the research
process, and implementing changes that evidence finds as most useful and
beneficial. Research is an important aspect of nursing in general, and
treatment of those who have a mental illness is no different. One of the
biggest problems that the mental health industry faces is a lack of educated
and appropriately trained personnel. There is an increasing need for
researchers with both clinical knowledge and research expertise. Mental health
has started making great strides in changing the way people view mental
illnesses and it is important for this progress to continue for the sake of all
those who are in need of help but are unable to obtain it. Nurses should be at
the forefront of this movement, it is important to always be vigilant with
research in order to provide the best possible care for his or her patients.
Bibliography
Jaclene A. Zauszniewski PhD, R., & Jane Suresky ND, R. C. (2004,
January). Evidence for Psychiatric Nursing Practice: An Analysis of Three
Years of Published Research. Retrieved November 2016, from The Online
Journal for Issues in Nursing:
http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Volume92004/No1Jan04/HirshArticle/EvidenceforPsychiatricNursingPractice.html
