Multidisciplinary team members’ perceptions regarding advanced psychiatric nurses’ attitudes on mental healthcare

BACKGROUND: The attitudes of advanced psychiatric nurses significantly contribute to the management, treatment plan and care of the mental healthcare users, and resultantly affects the quality and standards of mental healthcare. Considering these effects, it is imperative to understand how the attitudes of advanced psychiatric nurses are perceived by other multidisciplinary team members. AIM: To describe the perceptions of the multidisciplinary team members regarding advanced psychiatric nurses’ attitudes in clinical practice. SETTING: Three mental health institutions were utilised to obtain the perceptions related to the attitudes displayed by advanced psychiatric nurses in the clinical environment. METHOD: A qualitative research descriptive approach was adopted to obtain in-depth descriptions of the attitudes portrayed by advanced psychiatric nurses. Eight purposefully sampled multidisciplinary team members were interviewed to obtain information. Data were analysed using Colaizzi’s method. RESULTS: Themes and sub-themes emerged. Mental healthcare providers exhibited both negative and positive attitudes towards mental health patients. By perception, unfavorable attitudes hindered effective communication and psychosocial rehabilitation programs for mental health patients. Positivity enhanced feedback during ward rounds and during clinical meetings. CONCLUSION: Despite the positive impact advanced psychiatric nurses have on mental health care, views regarding mental health patients remain negative. It is recommended that advanced psychiatric nursing education curriculum address negative attitudes, views, and stereotypes. Mental healthcare users need to be provided with psychosocial rehabilitation programs and activities that address advance psychiatric nurses’ lack of initiatives. CONTRIBUTION: A clear set of principles and protocols underpins the collaborative effort among multidisciplinary teams in mental health care.