What Education is Most Needed for Psychiatric Unit Nurses? Exploring its Specific Educational Needs: A Mixed Method Study

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed study was to identify educational experience and needs associated with psychiatric mental health nursing, select an educational item that was most needed for psychiatric unit nurses (Special Situation Response), and explore specific educational needs. Methods: The survey on educational experience and needs was conducted January-February 2019 with 110 nurses. Three focus group interviews on Special Situation Response were conducted simultaneously with the survey. Results: Educational experience and needs were high in the order of ‘special situation response’ and ‘communication skills’. As for the Special Situation Response, unit managers had less educational experience than staff nurses, and specific educational needs were ‘dealing with psychiatric emergencies’, ‘symptom management of mental illness’, ‘forming therapeutic relationships’, and ‘nursing of addicted patients’. Conclusion: Psychiatric unit nurses must be competent with the Special Situation Response. We propose theory and nursing skills training for unit managers and tailor-made education that reflects the 10 sub-categories of specific educational needs for all nurses.