Hospital Nurse Competency to Care for Patients With Behavioral Health Concerns: A Follow-Up Study.

Nonpsychiatric nurses care for hospital patients with behavioral health (BH) conditions. This study found BH care competencies of hospital nurses slightly changed from those 9 years earlier. On average, nurses reported moderate to strong perceived competence about assessing/intervening and accessing resources to care for BH patients. They perceived less competence in recommending psychotropic drugs for patients who may need them. Staff development programs that aim to enhance nurse BH care competencies are needed.