Mental Health Nurses' Family Focused Practice with Parents who have Mental Illness, their Children and Families in Adult Mental Health Services in Ireland

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

Introduction: While it is recommended that mental health professionals engage in family focused practice (FFP), there is limited understanding regarding psychiatric nurses’ practice with parents who have mental illness, their children and families in adult mental health services.

Methods: This study utilized a mixed methods approach to measure the extent of psychiatric nurses’ family focused practice and factors that predicted it. It also sought to explore the nature and scope of high scoring psychiatric nurses’ FFP and factors that affected their capacity to engage in FFP. Three hundred and forty three psychiatric nurses in 12 mental health services throughout Ireland completed the Family Focused Mental Health Practice Questionnaire (FFMHPQ). Fourteen nurses who achieved high scores on the FFMHPQ also participated in semi-structured interviews.

Results: Whilst the majority of nurses were not family focused a substantial minority were. High scoring nurses’ practice was complex and multifaceted, comprising various family focused activities, principles and processes. Nurses’ capacity to engage in FFP was determined by their knowledge and skills, working in community settings and own parenting experience.

Conclusions: Generally, low levels of family focused practice suggest the need for organizations to develop and implement guidelines, policies and training to support mental health professionals to adopt a whole family approach.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 17 Aug 2016
EventFifth International Conference on Families and Children with Parental Mental Health Challenges - Basel, Switzerland
Duration: 17 Aug 201619 Aug 2016
http://www.psy-congress.ch/frontend/index.php?page_id=1892

Conference

ConferenceFifth International Conference on Families and Children with Parental Mental Health Challenges
Country/TerritorySwitzerland
CityBasel
Period17/08/201619/08/2016
Internet address

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