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Assertive outreach nurses' experience of engagement.
1Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust, Headington, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK. archie@addisj.freeserve.co.uk
Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
|July 17, 2004
Summary
This study explores nurses' experiences with assertive outreach (AO) engagement, revealing key themes like time management, emotional resilience, and the importance of a caring attitude in rural AO services.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Mental Health Services
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- Assertive outreach (AO) is a critical model for engaging hard-to-reach mental health patients.
- Limited research exists on nurses' subjective experiences within the AO engagement process.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore and understand the lived experiences of nurses working in assertive outreach.
- To identify key themes and challenges encountered during the AO engagement process.
Main Methods:
- Hermeneutic phenomenology guided by Martin Heidegger's philosophy.
- Semi-structured interviews conducted with five nurses from a rural AO service.
- Thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns in nurses' experiences.
Main Results:
- Seven major themes emerged: "having time," "anticipatory persistence and tired dejection," "pressure, relief and satisfaction," "being the human professional confluence," "accepting anxiety and fear," "working and learning together," and "bringing the caring attitude."
- Nurses described a complex interplay of emotional, professional, and practical factors influencing their engagement.
Conclusions:
- Understanding these themes provides valuable insights for AO nursing practice.
- Recommendations are offered to support nurses and enhance the effectiveness of AO engagement.
- Further research is needed to explore these experiences in diverse AO settings.