Mental health nursing consultation: a study of expectations

Psychiatric nurses working in the field of mental health consultation to medical-surgical nursing units may find it useful to become more fully aware of what is expected of the mental health nurse consultant role and how they can best meet these expectations in their individual situations and setting. This study demonstrated that the medical-surgical nurses in one hospital do have specific expectations for the role of the mental health nurse consultant. To fulfill these expectations the mental health nurse consultant should identify her role in light of the above findings and attempt to integrate her job within the boundaries set forth by her hospital, the nursing team with whom she is working, and the patient's needs.