Referrals to psychiatric liaison nurses: changes in characteristics over a limited time period

This article reviews the literature on the consultant/consultee relationship within psychiatric liaison nursing. Data on 284 referrals from staff nurses to psychiatric liaison nurses (PLNs) in a teaching hospital are examined to discover whether the nature of the referrals changes with the evolving consultation relationship. Referrals are found to change over time in their specificity, focus, level of sophistication, and kind of PLN involvement requested. Possible explanations for these changes are discussed.