Psychiatric nurses' attitudes toward patients with borderline personality disorder experiencing deliberate self-harm

The aim of this descriptive study was to explore the attitudes of psychiatric nurses toward patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) experiencing deliberate self-harm. A convenience sample of psychiatric nurses (N = 83) working on the adult behavioral health units of three psychiatric hospitals in Pennsylvania were surveyed about their attitudes toward BPD inpatients experiencing deliberate self-harm using the Adapted Attitudes towards Deliberate Self-Harm Questionnaire. Psychiatric nurses had positive attitudes toward hospitalized BPD patients with deliberate self-harm issues. Psychiatric nurses with more years of nursing experience and self-reported need for further BPD continuing education had more positive attitudes toward hospitalized BPD patients with deliberate self-harm issues, findings that nurse educators need to consider when planning curricula. Future studies need to examine the longitudinal effect of continuing education on nurses' attitudes and outcomes for BPD patients with deliberate self-harm issues.