Nursing diagnoses in a psychiatric emergency service: contribution to care systematization

Abstract

Background: In a psychiatric emergency service, there is a diversity of clinical situations that reflect different nursing needs and problems. Objective: To identify the most common mental health-related nursing diagnoses in a psychiatric emergency service. Methodology: Extensive-quantitative study in a sample of 49 patients in the psychiatric emergency service. Elaboration of nursing diagnoses according to the International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) and using the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Measure of Adherence to Treatment (MAT), and the Markova and Berrios Insight Scale. Results: Impaired therapeutic adherence was the most common diagnosis, followed by a high prevalence of diagnoses related to psychotic symptoms and the psy-chological domain of mood, such as sadness, anxiety, and negative self-esteem. Conclusion: The changes in the domain of psychotic symptoms represent the main nursing diagnoses and challenges.