Evidence-based training for enhancing psychiatric nurses' child behavior management skills

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Nursing Education
• Behavioral Health Management

Background:

• Nurses in inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric units manage significant behavior problems.
• Existing evidence-based training programs to prepare nurses for this role are limited.
• Effective behavioral management strategies are crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a 3-day standardized parent/teacher training program adapted for nurses.
• To assess changes in nurses' self-reported behaviors and observed interactions with children.
• To gauge nurses' perceptions of the training program's effectiveness and their personal development.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study was conducted with nurses in an inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric unit.
• Nurses participated in a 3-day adapted parent/teacher training program.
• Self-reported data on behavior management techniques and observed nurse-child interactions were collected.

Main Results:

• The training program led to significant increases in nurses' self-reported use of child praise and incentives.
• Observed nurse behaviors during play sessions showed desired changes, indicating improved interaction strategies.
• Participants reported increased empathy and reduced judgment towards parents.

Conclusions:

• Evidence-based training programs can effectively enhance nurses' skills in managing behavioral problems in pediatric psychiatric settings.
• The adapted training program shows promise for improving nurse competencies and patient care.
• Further research is warranted to validate these findings in larger, diverse populations.