Exploring the thinking, reasoning and clinical approach of expert child psychiatric nurses

Expert nurses are characterized by their deep knowledge of patient situations and understanding of patients in the context of their total situation. We know of no studies that have focused on the expert practice of child/adolescent (C/A) psychiatric mental health (PMH) advanced practice nurse.

The purpose of this study was to gather information on how expert C/A advanced practice psychiatric nurses (APPNs) view their role and assess/treat children and adolescents with complex mental health issues.

Expert C/A APPNs were interviewed by one of the two investigators using a semi-structured interview guide. All interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. This was a qualitative descriptive study and in line with that method, interview content was open-coded and examined for themes that were collapsed into categories.

Fifteen C/A PMH APPNs were interviewed. Initial categories that were distilled included descriptions of their commitment to the population, development of families as partners, an expanded approach to medication management, and how they demonstrate expertise.

Expert nurses adopt an invaluable approach to children and families-inherently patient and family-centered. They view the child/teen in terms of the multiple contexts of their lives.