The development of an internship program in psychiatric nursing

As medicine and nursing have become increasingly specialized, the need for additional training for the graduate nurse has become more evident. One way in which nursing educators have dealth with this problem is through the establishment of general nursing internship programs. The authors review some of the historical background for the development of these programs and describe the establishment of an 8-week specialized nursing internship program in psychiatric nursing. They conclude with a brief evaluation of the program.