Psychoanalytic developmental ego psychology: a framework for advanced psychiatric nursing practice

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Nursing Education

Background:

• Psychoanalytic Developmental Ego Psychology (PDEP) is explored as a theoretical lens.
• Understanding clinical material through a developmental ego psychology framework is examined.

Observation:

• Thirty-four advanced practice psychiatric mental health nursing students participated.
• Interview data were systematically organized into case studies for analysis.

Findings:

• PDEP proves to be a suitable theoretical framework for both the education and clinical practice of advanced psychiatric nurses.
• The framework supports the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical application in psychiatric nursing.

Implications:

• PDEP offers a theory-derived, outcome-oriented framework applicable to a wide range of clients.
• This approach can enhance the clinical reasoning and practice of psychiatric mental health nurses.
• The study supports the utility of PDEP in advanced nursing curricula and clinical settings.