Exploration of the Experience of Work Environment in Korean Psychiatric Nurses Working in Mental Hospitals / 정신간호학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore psychiatric nurses' experiences of positive and negative factors in the workplace that may influence the nurse to burnout or engagement. METHODS: Three focus groups of 15 psychiatric nurses working in 3 mental hospitals were interviewed. Qualitative descriptive methods and qualitative content analysis were used. RESULTS: For negative factors, there were 6 domains (compensation and welfare, manpower, organizational support, duty, work load, role identity), 9 categories (poor benefits, low level of salaries and unreasonable pay system, nurse shortage, lack of nurse competency, poorly prepared assistant staff, lack of support systems for development, irrational duty assignments, work overload, identity crisis as a psychiatric nurse) and 17 subcategories. For positive factors, there were 3 domains (client, colleagues, nurses' role), 4 categories (rapport with client, client recovery, respect and support from colleagues and head nurses, nursing leadership and participation in the treatment process) and 7 subcategories. CONCLUSION: Results of this study suggest the following a) further research is needed to identify strategies to improve negative factors, particularly, he establishment of a rational nursing personnel policy b) recognizing and encouraging positive factors to strengthen nurses' work engagement with support from institutions and nurse administrators.