Mental health nurses' experience of challenging workplace situations : A qualitative descriptive study
Journal article
Cranage, Kylie and Foster, Kim. (2022). Mental health nurses' experience of challenging workplace situations : A qualitative descriptive study. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 31(3), pp. 665-676. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12986
Authors | Cranage, Kylie and Foster, Kim |
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Abstract | Mental health nursing is acknowledged internationally as being a demanding profession; however, little is known about the range of experience and complexity of workplace challenges or their impacts on mental health nurses (MHN). This qualitative descriptive study aimed to examine and describe the range of challenging workplace situations experienced by MHN and is reported according to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research. An online cross-sectional survey collected demographic data and open-ended descriptions of workplace challenges experienced by n = 374 Australian MHN. Using a modified a priori framework, four categories of experience were derived through content analysis: consumer-related, colleague-related, nursing role-related, and organizational service-related challenges. Many accounts described a complex interplay of challenges. The findings extend prior knowledge on MHN experiences. Frequent workplace challenges included violence and aggression from consumers, bullying from colleagues, low staffing levels, and poor skill mix. Further extending the evidence, key challenges rarely described in prior literature were the psychological impacts of suicides and murder; the personal nature of threats from consumers; moral distress and concerns with colleagues' quality of practice; and exacerbation of practice-related issues by lack of support from colleagues and/or the organization. These have important implications for the profession and can inform targeted strategies to reduce stressors where possible, build staff well-being, support workforce retention, and improve the provision of quality care. The implementation of targeted policy and initiatives that focus on reducing key stressors and supporting practice are vital to staff retention and ensuring a high standard of practice in complex mental health workplaces. |
Keywords | mental health nursing; qualitative; stressors; well-being; workplace |
Year | 2022 |
Journal | International Journal of Mental Health Nursing |
Journal citation | 31 (3), pp. 665-676 |
Publisher | John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd |
ISSN | 1445-8330 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12986 |
PubMed ID | 35347822 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85127256239 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC9314796 |
Open access | Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access |
Page range | 665-676 |
Funder | Australian Catholic University (ACU) |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 28 Mar 2022 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 21 Feb 2022 |
Deposited | 18 Jan 2023 |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8y9w0/mental-health-nurses-experience-of-challenging-workplace-situations-a-qualitative-descriptive-study
Download files
Publisher's version
OA_Cranage_2022_Mental_health_nurses_experience_of_challenging.pdf | |
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 | |
File access level: Open |
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