Emergency nurses' views of persons with mental health problems attending the accident and emergency department

Abstract

This descriptive, exploratory research study was conducted to explore emergency nurses' views of persons with mental health problems attending the Accident and Emergency department in the main general hospital in Malta. A quantitative approach using a self-designed postal questionnaire was used to collect data from emergency nurses (n=72) with more than one year experience working within this department. Forty questionnaires were returned rendering a response rate of 55.56%. Descriptive statistics was used for the quantitative data accumulated from the Likert scale, while content analysis was performed for the qualitative data. Findings indicate that respondents considered themselves capable of recognising and triaging persons with mental health problems. Respondents are aware of the importance of having a new triage system and a mental health nurse present at the department as it would be useful both for nurses and patients. Respondents further stressed that training and education on common mental health problems; communication and triage are an assets to emergency nursing in order to enhance quality of care towards persons with mental health problems. The emergency department was not considered the right place for first intervention and that it is not inclusive for persons with mental health problems. Findings revealed that having a private room at the emergency department would be beneficial for persons with mental health problems. Moreover, respondents consider that the physical aspect of the person attending the emergency department is more important than the psychological aspect of the ones attending. Respondents also viewed that in order to increase further awareness on mental health problems, more collaboration with the Maltese Association of Psychiatric Nurses (MAPN) was deemed necessary. Besides the respondents' recommendations, further qualitative research using interviews is recommended in order to achieve more depth from the issues which cmcrgc<l from the stu<ly. It wus deemeu necessmy tu imprnve prncfa:-e, increase education and more in-depth research.