Nursing Practice Environment in Psychiatric Units: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Mental Health Services
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The practice environment significantly impacts psychiatric-mental health nursing care quality.
• Limited evidence exists on specific environmental factors influencing this care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of primary research on environmental factors affecting nursing practice in psychiatric inpatient units.
• To identify key influences on the quality of psychiatric-mental health nursing care.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was performed on primary research published between 2009 and 2019.
• Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL databases.
• Eleven articles were included in the final analysis.

Main Results:

• The biomedical approach can hinder nursing model development.
• Nurses reported a lack of organizational opportunities, representation, and recognition.
• Managerial support positively influences nurses' perceived competence and commitment.
• Emotional exhaustion, workload, and administrative tasks were linked to a need for team belonging.

Conclusions:

• Psychiatric nurses perceive their practice environment positively but face limitations.
• Enhanced organizational support and effective teamwork are crucial for improving care quality.
• Mental health services require managerial support, recognition, and established nursing models within units.