Emergency psychiatric services in Roozbeh Hospital: A qualitative study of the staff's experiences.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aims to explore how psychiatric residents and nurses experience the conditions of psychiatric emergency services. DESIGN AND METHODS: This qualitative study was carried out using content analysis. Data were collected through unstructured interviews conducted during three focus groups. FINDINGS: The results of the focus groups were classified into the following five categories of issues influencing the staff's experiences repetitive problems, long wait times, ambiguity, insecurity, and stability. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Improving the staff's communication skills and educating them on how to manage violence, establishing a well-functional system of triage, and optimizing bed management and discharge planning are among several potential strategies that might be considered to improve the quality of care in psychiatric emergency services.