Analysis of competence of psychiatric nurses and quality of nursing

Links between competence of psychiatric nurses and quality of nursing have been poorly studied. It is likely that high competence of nurses determines good quality of nursing. The research could be useful for both nurses and patients, as both groups are concerned about the improvement of quality of nursing: nurses as service providers and patients as customers. Aim – to analyze competence of psychiatric nurses and the quality of nursing. Methods of research. A quantitative research has been conducted using a target selection method and questioning psychiatric nurses and mental patients. The research was carried out in X mental hospitals in 4 cities of Lithuania. 226 nurses and 219 patients participated in the research. The research was conducted in pursuance of principles of ethics. Data was processed statistically. Results of research. The nurses who participated in the research gave quite good evaluation of their general and special knowledge and nursing of mental patients. However, although all nurses noted having attended refreshers’ courses, they lack special knowledge. The research revealed that even knowing the need for nursing for patients, conflicts with mental patients are unavoidable. A large number of nurses are only partially aware of how to manage conflict situations and sometimes they fail to foresee a threat for the health of patients or people surrounding them. Unacceptable incidents are also inevitable. Patients appreciate not only nursing or treatment but also cleanness of wards, quality of food, outfit of nurses and their tidiness, and the latter influence their choice of medical institution. Nurses themselves rate their work performance worse than patients. Also, nurses rate the work of doctors worse than patients. The research showed that nurses with more work experience trust their abilities to take good care of patients, and nurses with high or higher education provide assistance faster than those with special secondary education. Conclusion. Management of conflicts is possible only if one is aware of how much he or she can expect from mental patients. Nurses with more work experience become less sensitive to patients’ complaints. High competence is not enough for psychiatric nurses working in the field of psychiatrics – they also need specific knowledge, young age, good social skills and tolerance in order to ensure high quality of nursing of mental patients