Exploring Helpful Nursing Care in Pediatric Mental Health Settings: The Perceptions of Children with Suicide Risk Factors and Their Parents.

This qualitative descriptive study explored helpful nursing care from the perspective of children with suicide-associated risk factors, and their parents. Data were collected through participant observation followed by a debriefing session with children, and semi-structured interviews with parents. The inductive analysis revealed four themes of helpful interventions: (1) caring for the child as a special person; (2) caring for the parents; (3) managing the child's illness; and (4) creating a therapeutic environment. The study findings highlight the importance of the relational aspect of nursing care and provide important insights related to family-centered and strengths-based practice with children at increased risk for suicide later in life.

[Adolescents at suicide risk: nursing care they consider helpful]. / Les interventions infirmières estimées bénéfiques par les adolescents à risque de suicide.

This qualitative study explores "helpful" nursing care from the perspective of adolescents at risk for suicide. While hospital-based nurses have a high level of direct and continuous contact with suicidal teens, little is known about the nursing care offered to this population. The purpose of this research is to explore the perceptions of suicidal adolescents regarding helpful nursing care during hospital treatment on a mental health unit. Nine patients, aged 15-18 years, participated in individualized, semi-structured interviews. Results affirm the importance of personalized, human caring interactions combined with nurse accompaniment across situations of daily living as well as during acute crisis, illness and suffering. The nurse's role and contribution in creating a therapeutic milieu is described, and the impact of a health-promoting hospital environment on patient care and recovery is highlighted.

Let's talk about sex: promoting staff dialogue on a mental health nursing unit.

The purpose of this study was to develop and assess a staff development intervention seeking to promote dialogue about client sexuality in a mental health setting. Fifteen staff and two nurse managers from a single psychiatric inpatient unit participated. Major themes influencing practice regarding client sexuality were explored, and nursing strategies used by participants were analyzed. The intervention, which in this case focused on client sexuality, serves as a potential model for staff development specialists seeking to develop care in important areas of nursing practice.

Essential Professional Nursing Practices in mental health: A cross-sectional study of hospital inpatient care.

Quality organizational structures and nursing practices are key to positive patient outcomes. Whereas structures have been largely studied over the past few decades, less is known of the nursing practices that account for patient outcomes, such as patient satisfaction. This is especially true in psychiatric, mental health care settings. The aim of the present study is to determine the relative importance of eight Essential Professional Nursing Practices (EPNPs) on the satisfaction of hospitalized patients on mental health care units. A cross-sectional design was selected; 226 point-of-care mental health nurses completed the online EPNP questionnaire in Spring 2015. Statistical analyses included MANOVAs and a 2-step linear regression. A significant relationship was found between university preparation and scores on two EPNP subscales: autonomous decision-making and practicing with competent nurses. Scores on patient advocacy and control over practice subscales were significantly related to nurse-rated patient satisfaction. The findings reinforce the positive link between university education and the work of nurses and highlight the power dynamics that are salient in mental health care. The pertinence of EPNPs in psychiatric settings is brought to the fore, with practices of patient advocacy and nurse control over care examined in relation to empowerment. Implications for clinical and administrative leaders are addressed, with a focus on strategies for empowering patients and nurses.