Mental Health Orientation for Paediatric Nursing: Rockhampton Hospital, Central Queensland Health Service District

Abstract

[Extract] The Paediatric Research Team, with the support of funding provided by Working Wonders (Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation) and the Golden Casket Foundation conducted a participatory action research project from November 2006 through November 2008 with the Paediatric Unit nursing staff of the Rockhampton Hospital.

Regional health care facilities are currently experiencing an increase in the numbers of children diagnosed and hospitalised with mental and behavioural disorders. In some regional areas, where specialist child and youth inpatient mental health services are absent, these children are managed in the general Paediatric Unit amidst other inpatients with acute physical illnesses. Working with this client group poses new challenges for general paediatric nurses in these settings. While such admissions may be necessary for the young persons’ wellbeing and in order to keep family dislocation to a minimum, this practice poses a large burden of care on general nurses who have a lack of education and understanding regarding such clients’ needs.

Participatory action research (PAR) is a process whereby nurses and researchers work collaboratively, using self-reflection and inquiry, in order to understand and improve a situation by facilitating change. The aim of this project was to improve patient outcomes by identifying and implementing strategies that would empower general nurses, with limited or no knowledge of mental health service provision, to care for patients who have a mental illness. The specific aims of the study were to: • Engage the nursing staff of the Paediatric Unit in the research project through PAR; • Foster an inclusive culture within the Paediatric Unit, which embraces management of paediatric mental health patients; • Retain paediatric mental health patients in a rural setting; • Develop an environment that contributes to high level of staff satisfaction.