How to Improve Bedside Psychiatric Nursing Care
As with most careers nurses working in the field of psychiatry run the risk of failing into a daily routine of lessened standards. A position in this career field can be both physically and mentally demanding, and will require hard work on their part. For both the patients and other medical staff, their bedside manner is an essential part of care.
- Make the entire psychiatric nursing team a part of both the assessment and care planning of all patients. The nurse is generally the key figure that each patient most identifies with; therefore, having a great relationship between the two is essential to their care. Ask the nurse about his or her views of the patient and their care plan. This step will not only directly involve the nurse but it will also enhance his or her knowledge base.
- Encourage the nursing staff to build great relationships with all their patients. Develop a system of frequent staff praise, as well as both constructive and honest feedback about their performance. You may even consider establishing a support group, where members of the nursing staff can receive and give valuable peer support and feedback.
- Offer each member of your psychiatric nursing staff an opportunity for advancement through continued training and education programs. A nurse that is both highly trained and skilled is generally a more confident one. That on the job confidence translates into better job performance. Ensure that the staff is current with any new legislative trends as well medical techniques. All these advantages will improve the level of care that they are able to provide to each patient.