Support interventions for nurses working in acute psychiatric units: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Psychiatric Nursing
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Nurses in acute psychiatric settings face significant stressors.
• Support interventions aim to mitigate stress and enhance staff well-being.
• Existing research lacks a focused review on interventions in these specific settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review effective stress reduction interventions for nurses in acute psychiatric settings.
• To identify key elements of successful support interventions.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted for studies published between 2010 and 2021.
• Seven relevant studies were selected and analyzed by independent reviewers.
• Interventions included mindfulness, burnout prevention, communication skills, and resilience training.

Main Results:

• Four key elements emerged: educational support, interpersonal skills, psychological support, and adaptive coping.
• Diverse interventions were identified, showing varied approaches to stress management.
• A notable gap exists in studies conducted specifically within acute psychiatric settings.

Conclusions:

• Effective support interventions for psychiatric nurses incorporate educational, interpersonal, psychological, and coping strategies.
• Findings can inform practice improvements for managers implementing stress-reduction programs.
• Further research is needed in acute psychiatric settings to address the identified knowledge gap.