Mapping Psychiatric Nursing Skills Qualitative Review
Mapping Psychiatric Nursing Skills
Mapping Psychiatric Nursing Skills
Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2012) defines escalation as “An increase in extent, volume, number, amount, intensity, or scope.” (Escalate, para. 1) Escalation is commonly used to describe the behaviors of psychiatric patients as they become increasingly agitated. Delaney and Johnson (2007) describe escalation as “a linear trajectory of behavioral eruption beginning with agitation and proceeding until the patient is out of control” (p. 42). Preventing workplace violence that stems from patient agitation is an important role of psychiatric nurse, as it involves keeping everyone on the unit, including the agitated patient, safe from harm. There are many training programs available to teach psychiatric nurses de-escalation techniques, but it is still unclear as to how to translate those skills into nursing practice. This study was performed to examine how nurses on inpatient psychiatric units use de-escalation strategies, and to obtain staff and patient perceptions regarding the volatile events (Delaney & Johnson, 2006). In order to train nurses on the strategies and skills of de-escalation, how and when these techniques are being used need to be identified in their naturally occurring states.
Researchability of Study Problem
The authors of the study state that the purpose of this study is to develop a theory of the de-escalation process by observing how nurses handle sensitive situations with agitated patients, as well as to describe the strategies and interventions nurses used to handle these situations (Delaney & Johnson, 2006). There are very few studies researching the effectiveness of de-escalation training and current interventions used by mental health staff. The authors developed their study based on qualitative methods to describe the context of the volatile situations, and to identify interventions used by nurses to de-escalate the situations. The objective, to
Mapping Psychiatric Nursing Skills
Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2012) defines escalation as “An increase in extent, volume, number, amount, intensity, or scope.” (Escalate, para. 1) Escalation is commonly used to describe the behaviors of psychiatric patients as they become increasingly agitated. Delaney and Johnson (2007) describe escalation as “a linear trajectory of behavioral eruption beginning with agitation and proceeding until the patient is out of control” (p. 42). Preventing workplace violence that stems from patient agitation is an important role of psychiatric nurse, as it involves keeping everyone on the unit, including the agitated patient, safe from harm. There are many training programs available to teach psychiatric nurses de-escalation techniques, but it is still unclear as to how to translate those skills into nursing practice. This study was performed to examine how nurses on inpatient psychiatric units use de-escalation strategies, and to obtain staff and patient perceptions regarding the volatile events (Delaney & Johnson, 2006). In order to train nurses on the strategies and skills of de-escalation, how and when these techniques are being used need to be identified in their naturally occurring states.
Researchability of Study Problem
The authors of the study state that the purpose of this study is to develop a theory of the de-escalation process by observing how nurses handle sensitive situations with agitated patients, as well as to describe the strategies and interventions nurses used to handle these situations (Delaney & Johnson, 2006). There are very few studies researching the effectiveness of de-escalation training and current interventions used by mental health staff. The authors developed their study based on qualitative methods to describe the context of the volatile situations, and to identify interventions used by nurses to de-escalate the situations. The objective, to
References: Delaney, K. R., & Johnson, M. E. (2006). Keeping the unit safe: Mapping psychiatric nursing skills. Journal of American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 12(4), 198-207. Johnson, M. E., & Delaney, K. R. (2007). Keeping the unit safe: the anatomy of escalation. Journal of American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 13(1), 42-52. Laws, K., & McLeod, R. (2004). Case study and grounded theory: Sharing some alternative qualitative research methodologies with systems professionals. Systems Dynamics Society (pp. 1-25). Oxford, England, UK: HVR Consulting Services Ltd. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2012). Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Retrieved February 29, 2012, from Merriam-Webster, Incorporated: www.m-w.com Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2012). Nursing Research. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.