Experiences of emergency nurses providing care to individuals with mental health problems in Türkiye: A qualitative...

The number of patients presenting to emergency departments due to mental health problems is increasing. Nurses, often the initial point of contact for patients in this setting, assume responsibility for managing their care and encounter obstacles in the process.

The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of nurses providing care to patients presenting to the emergency department with mental health problems and to uncover the reasons for the difficulties they encounter. The question that guided this study was: What are the experiences of emergency nurses caring for individuals with mental health problems?

A descriptive qualitative study method was employed in this research, conducted with the participation of 13 emergency nurses working at a tertiary training and research hospital in Türkiye. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted, and thematic analysis was performed using an inductive analytic approach to report the research findings. Additionally, the COREQ guideline was utilized in reporting the results.

Data analysis revealed two main themes, six themes emerging from these main themes, and eight subthemes. In the main theme of "Difficulties in Care," the themes were (1) Triage, (2) Treatment and Care, (3) Safety, and 4) Privacy and Dignity Protection. In the main theme of "Barriers to Care," the themes were (5) Insufficient Support and (6) Self-Inefficacy.

Challenges in emergency mental health care are linked to both staff performance and institutional operations. Therefore, it is recommended to implement training programs utilizing interactive and effective learning methods to enhance nurses' caregiving skills, alongside making necessary adjustments to improve organizational processes.