Mental Health Unit (mental + health_unit)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


A structured observation of the interaction between nurses and patients during the administration of medication in an acute mental health unit

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 17-18 2010
Joy A Duxbury
Aims., This aims of this study are to describe current practice in the administration of medication in an acute psychiatric unit and explore factors that influence nurses' decisions regarding the administration of medication during ,rounds'. Background., Medication ,rounds' form part of the ward routine in many inpatient mental health settings. Nurses make several clinical decisions about administrating medication; yet, concerns have been raised about the poor assessment of patients' needs and the quality of the information exchanged. Design., A structured non-participant observational design was used for this research. Method., This study involved the observation of 20 medication ,rounds' over three months. The Ward Administration of Medication Schedule was used to report on the interactions between nurses and patients and aspects of their communication during each round. Results., From the rounds observed nurses appeared adept at communicating a positive interpersonal style but less so in demonstrating skills portraying collaboration and information giving. For example whilst nurses communicated warmth in 97% of cases, using non-verbal behaviours such as good eye contact, the provision of information was only initiated in 46% of cases. Enquiries regarding the patient's general health and medication taking (35% and 17% respectively) were less commonly observed. Verbal consent was sought in only 25% of cases. Procedural matters were adhered to overall. Conclusions., Findings suggest limited collaboration between nurses and patients and the poor monitoring of health status and medication effects. Information exchange could be improved; however, this may be related to medication procedures that make it difficult to explore sensitive information with patients, rather than nursing skills and behaviour. Relevance to clinical practice., The Ward Administration of Medication Schedule can be used as a clinical or educational tool in the administration of medication. In both instances, it may be self-administered and used to reflect on personal skills or employed as an observational tool during peer review and audit. [source]


A qualitative study into the experience of individuals involved in a mindfulness group within an acute inpatient mental health unit

JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 6 2007
M. YORK rmn
[source]


Stepping out of the box: broadening the dialogue around the organizational implementation of cognitive behavioural psychotherapy

JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 4 2005
J. POOLE ba dip nursing (mh)
The dissemination and uptake of cognitive behavioural interventions is central to the evidence-based mental health agenda in Britain. However, some policy and related literature, in and of itself social constructed, tends to display discursive naïvety in assuming a rational basis for the dissemination and organizational integration of cognitive behavioural approaches. Rational constructions fail to acknowledge that the practice settings of key stakeholders in the process are likely to be socially constructed fields of multiple meanings. Within these, the importance of evidence-based interventions may be variously contested or reworked. To illustrate this, a case example from the first author will discuss the hypothetical introduction of a cognitive behavioural group for voice hearers in a forensic mental health unit. This will highlight contradictions and local organizational problems around the effective utilization of postgraduate cognitive behavioural knowledge and skills. A synthesis of social constructionist with organizational theory will be used to make better sense of these actual and anticipated difficulties. From this basis, specific ways in which nurses and supportive stakeholders could move the implementation of cognitive behavioural psychotherapy agenda forward within a postmodern leadership context will be proposed. [source]


Physical examinations of mental health service users

PROGRESS IN NEUROLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY, Issue 4 2010
Andrew Peter Vanezis BSc, MBChB
The Royal College of Psychiatrists recommends that every psychiatric inpatient should have a thorough physical examination within 24 hours of admission. Here, the authors present their cross-sectional audit to assess the timing and quality of physical examinations within an inner London inpatient mental health unit. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Interface Ltd [source]


Application of the occupational adaptation framework in child and adolescent occupational therapy practice.

AUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2007
A case study
Background:,The occupational adaptation frame of reference asserts that a person's occupational functioning may be improved through positive changes in his/her adaptive processes. This framework's authors advocate that occupational adaptation theory can be applied to practice with clients of all ages (Schultz & Schkade, 1992). Published literature to date has been focused on the application of this framework with adults and adolescents. Method:,This paper reviews the major theoretical constructs and guide to practice of occupational adaptation theory whilst interweaving descriptions of its application to a paediatric case study conducted within a child and adolescent mental health unit. Conclusion:,While it was shown through the case study that the occupational adaptation frame of reference can guide occupational therapy practice with a child nearing adolescence critical reflections about the experience suggest some challenges for the practitioner and students. [source]


Psychiatric inpatient care for adults with intellectual disabilities: generic or specialist units?

JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 1 2004
K. Xenitidis
Abstract Background When adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) require a psychiatric admission, general adult mental health units are often used. Specialist units have emerged recently as a care option but there is only limited evidence of their effectiveness. Thus this study aims to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of a specialist inpatient unit and report on the utilization of generic and specialist inpatient services. Method All patients admitted to a specialist ID psychiatric unit were evaluated on admission and immediately after discharge on a number of outcome measures. In addition, they were compared with those admitted to general adult mental health units covering the same catchment area. Results Significant improvements were demonstrated within the specialist unit cohort on measures including psychopathology, global level of functioning, behavioural impairment and severity of mental illness. The specialist unit patients had a longer length of inpatient stay but were less likely to be discharged to out-of-area residential placement. Conclusions Specialist units are an effective care option for this group of people. [source]


The textual organization of placement into long-term care: issues for older adults with mental illness

NURSING INQUIRY, Issue 1 2010
Annette Lane
LANE A, McCOY L and EWASHEN C. Nursing Inquiry 2010: 17: 3,14 The textual organization of placement into long-term care: issues for older adults with mental illness Arranging placement of older adults from hospital mental health units into nursing homes or assisted living facilities can be difficult and protracted. The difficulty in placing these individuals is often attributed to stigma; that is, personnel in nursing homes are reluctant to accept mentally ill older adults because of the fear of mental illness and violence. Using an institutional ethnographic approach, we argue the importance of exploring how nursing home access is organized, especially the institutional process of placement. Our study, examining the process of placing older adults from mental health units into nursing homes or assisted living facilities within a western Canadian city, reveals how three specific textual points within the institutional process of placement do not work well for older adults with mental illness. These textual points include: constructing the older adult as a ,placeable' person, the first-level match and the second-level match. After exploring why the three specific points in the process do not work well for mentally ill individuals, we reconsider the explanation of stigma, and then suggest implications for change. [source]