Psychiatric consultation-liaison nursing: revisiting the role

With their special training and assessment skills, psychiatric consultation-liaison nurses have a long history of making important contributions to patient care and staff development. This article reviews how psychiatric consultation-liaison nurses have traditionally approached and implemented the nursing consultation process. Issues facing psychiatric consultation-liaison nurses are discussed. Opportunities such as focusing on subspecialization; expanding practice settings; dealing with organization-based, rather than patient-based mental health issues; and entering intra- and entrepreneurial practice are also explored.