Swedish forensic nursing care: nurses' professional contributions and educational needs

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychiatry
• Nursing Science
• Mental Health Care

Background:

• Forensic psychiatric units present unique challenges for nursing care.
• Existing nursing questionnaires require adaptation for specialized forensic settings.
• Understanding nurses' perspectives is crucial for improving care quality and addressing future demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze how nursing care can be improved in Swedish forensic psychiatric units.
• To identify necessary organizational changes within these units.
• To determine the essential knowledge and training needs for nurses in forensic mental health.

Main Methods:

• Content analysis of questionnaire data from nurses in five Swedish forensic psychiatric units.
• Questionnaire modified from general psychiatric nursing to suit forensic contexts.
• Focus on data related to care improvement, organizational changes, and knowledge requirements.

Main Results:

• The core of effective nursing care involves an interpersonal patient-nurse relationship built on trust, empathy, respect, and responsibility.
• Improved patient care is achievable through strengthening these relational aspects.
• Nurses identified educational needs in diverse treatment modalities, treatment implementation, relationship development, and ward-specific in-service training.

Conclusions:

• A strong, trust-based interpersonal relationship is fundamental to enhancing care in forensic psychiatric settings.
• Targeted in-service training and updated knowledge on treatment modalities are critical for meeting future demands.
• Organizational support for professional development is essential for forensic mental health nurses.