A conceptual framework for psychiatric-mental health nursing.

A conceptual framework for a psychiatric-mental health nursing program gives direction for course content and becomes a rich source of hypotheses leading to development of theory. For this described framework tenets of humanistic theorists provide the philosophical base: Belief in the individual's responsibility, capacity and potential for growth; meaning of life; respect and dignity of the individual; and freedom of the individual for self-determination. Four major components comprise the framework: social systems and developmental theories, communication concepts, and self-esteem. Set in the nursing process schema, concepts from social systems and developmental theories are used in the assessment, concepts from communication theories are the basis for intervention, and changes in self-esteem become a measure of evaluation. The framework is applicable for individual clients, families, and/or groups. The nurse therapist is viewed in the same framework which may evolve into an intersystem model. Numerous research questions are suggested which may validate the relationships between the components of the framework.