Nursing Perspectives of an Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Curriculum: Findings of a Qualitative Research Study

Preparing psychiatric mental health nurses to provide holistic person centered care promoting self-management and recovery following principles of the Tidal Model presents an opportunity for consistent practice and clear articulation  the nurses’ role on the interdisciplinary team.  Nursing staff from a Midwestern Behavioral Health Hospital in the United States attended an advanced nursing curriculum titled Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Curriculum: A Journey of Therapeutic Engagement.  This research study aims to assess the experience of and the impact that this advanced continuing education curriculum had on the nurses’ psychiatric nursing practice and the application of the Tidal Model principles.  A qualitative interpretive descriptive design will be used to gather and analyse data from participants. Such an approach provides a rich description and understanding of the nurses’ experience.  Focus group interviews will be the main method of data collection; utilizing open ended questions with the two cohorts of nurses that attended the 18 hour advanced Psychiatric Nursing Curriculum. A focus group schedule will be developed with a semi-structured interview guide.  There will be two focus group moderators for each session.  One moderator will lead the session and one moderator will take notes and ensure that the audio tape is working properly.  Focus groups will be audio taped and transcripts will be transcribed.  The constant comparative method of analysis will be employed by members of the research team that led the focus groups. After transcription and coding of focus group discussions has taken place, the research team will generate a set of statements and themes that embody each group's discussions and main points.  Conclusions will be presented that describe the experience and impact of the advanced psychiatric mental health nursing curriculum and the application of the Tidal Model principles that the nurses’ utilize in their daily psychiatric nursing practice.  The implications of this research study have potential to transform psychiatric nursing practice and provide patient centered and recovery oriented principles of nursing care.