Aptitude-based assignment of nurses to depressed patients

The study investigated the relationships between psychiatric nurse aptitudes and outcomes of depressive patients in residential psychiatric care. Upon admission, it is common practise for one nurse to be assigned to a patient for the entire hospital stay. Nurses differ individually. Depending on their professional rank (novice, proficient, master), nurses rely on other components of aptitude to care for their patients. Depending on a nurse's professional rank, other relationships exists between specific nurse aptitudes and certain changes in a patient's depressive feelings. Novice nurses should be assigned to patients that suffer more from performance impairment than negative attitudes towards self, whereas master nurses should be assigned to patients that suffer more from negative attitudes towards self than performance impairment. As a patient recovers, depressive feelings can change (e.g. switching from performance impairment to negative attitudes towards self). Our results suggest that nursing assignments should change in line with the dominant type of dysfunction displayed by the patient. This recommendation differs with current practises of assigning the same nurse to a patient for the entire hospital stay. Abstract In psychiatric units, head nurses face the daily challenge of assigning nurses to patients. The match between a patient and a nurse is not always optimal. This can hinder the therapeutic relationship. Aptitude is an important component of competence, especially for psychiatric nurses involved in therapeutic relationships. In this study, we undertook explorative research to investigate possible relationships between nurse aptitudes and outcomes in depressed patients. We found statistically significant relationships between specific nurse aptitudes, along professional rank, and particular patient outcomes. During the hospital stay, patients' depressive feelings change as they recover. Our results indicate that, as a patient's depressive feelings change, another type of nurse, one with an aptitude that supports the patient's current needs, should be assigned to care for that patient. This suggestion is at odds with current practises of assigning a patient to one nurse for the entire hospital stay