Detailed Information for Ronald Hall

Thesis:

The Role of the Psychiatric Nurse in a State Funded Psychiatric Facility

Abstract

            The current literature clearly indicates there is a paucity of research that explores the role of the psychiatric nurse in an inpatient hospital setting. The research does indicate that there is role ambiguity within psychiatric nursing. It is also clear that role ambiguity has a correlation to nursing burnout. In a profession that is in the midst of a shortage without a clear end in sight focus on issues that lead to nursing departing the profession has to be closely explored, particularly in specialty areas of nursing. A qualitative research design was implemented for this study. Utilizing grounded theory methodologies two panels of expert participants were obtained from the Department of State Hospital Section (DSHS) in the state of Texas. One panel consisted of nurse leaders that included shift supervisors up to nurse executives. The other panel consisted of clinical nurses with a wide range of nursing experience. Seven state hospitals located in different geographical regions in Texas were utilized for the sample. The research questionnaire consisted of six open ended questions. Electronic methodologies were utilized for sending & receiving questionnaires. The responses were carefully analyzed as they were reduced into themes. Betty Neuman Systems Model was the sensitizing framework for this study.

                Psychiatric nursing is a specialty that is often overlooked. Each question was carefully analyzed and the top three themes were identified for the clinical nurses and the nurse leaders for each question. These themes were then considered as a whole and were reduced to three common themes for the entire project. The three themes were the patient, communication and personal attributes.