Factors Affecting Collaboration of Intern Nurses With Patient Relatives in Psychiatry Clinic: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background

Psychiatric nursing internship practice aims to deliver nursing care to the individual with a mental disorder and his/her family and to fulfil all steps of the nursing process.

Aims and Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting the collaboration of intern nurses with relatives of psychiatric patients.

Methods

The research was conducted as a descriptive qualitative research design. Participants consisted of 17 intern nurses. A semi-structured interview form was used. The data analysed by the content analysis method in accordance with Guba and Lincoln's criteria of credibility, dependability, confirmability and transferability. COREQ checklist was used as a basis for planning and reporting the research.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 21.29 ± 0.77 and 12 of them (70.5%) were female. The results of the study indicated three themes regarding the perceptions of intern nurses. The themes related to perceptions of intern nurses about collaboration with patients' relatives were as follows: ‘individual and environmental characteristics that are effective in collaborating with patient relatives’, ‘effective nursing practices in collaboration with patient relatives’ and ‘possible results of collaboration with patient relatives’.

Conclusions

Intern nurses stated that the effective factors in working with patient relatives were the patient's symptoms and relationship with the family from the patient's perspective and views on illness and treatment, exposure to social stigma from the patients' relatives perspective. They stated that the nurse's communication skills and workload can be effective in working with patient relatives. Intern nurses expressed that information and education practices were important tools in collaboration with the patient relatives. It has been stated that collaboration with the patient relatives will provide possible desired results such as patient compliance with the treatment process, increased well-being, strengthening coping skills in the patient relatives and reducing caregiver burden, and providing job satisfaction and satisfaction for the nurse.