Mental health nurses’ experiences of caring for inpatients with severe mental disorders: a qualitative study
Abstract Background Patients with severe mental disorders (SMDs) often have complex needs that require long-term, multifaceted care. Exploring the experiences of mental health nurses (MHNs) in this context offers valuable insights into previously underexplored aspects of psychiatric care. The object...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07024-7 |
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| author | Roghaieh Keykha Naima Seyedfatemi Seyedeh Narjes Mousavizadeh Parvaneh Vasli |
| author_facet | Roghaieh Keykha Naima Seyedfatemi Seyedeh Narjes Mousavizadeh Parvaneh Vasli |
| author_sort | Roghaieh Keykha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Patients with severe mental disorders (SMDs) often have complex needs that require long-term, multifaceted care. Exploring the experiences of mental health nurses (MHNs) in this context offers valuable insights into previously underexplored aspects of psychiatric care. The objective of the present study was to examine the experiences of MHNs in providing care for inpatients with SMDs in psychiatric wards in Iran. Methods This study used a qualitative research design based on conventional content analysis. The participants were 20 MHNs working in psychiatric wards in Iran, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews, with a mean duration of 45 min. The data were then analyzed using conventional content analysis, with the help of MAXQDA (ver.10) software. Results The data analysis reduced to the emergence of three main themes and 12 categories, including (1) “care based on the nature of the disease”, comprised of four categories, viz., disease symptoms and specific nature, nursing care to prevent harm to oneself and others, therapeutic communication, and central role of medicinal care; (2) “patient- and family- based care”, with four categories of personalized care, trust building, respecting, understanding, and accepting patients, and family education; and (3) “complex and burdensome care”, containing four categories, i.e., challenges in gender-based care, challenges due to disease symptoms, psychological complications of care, and physical complications of care. Conclusion The study results clarified three main themes associated with MHNs’ experiences of caring for inpatients with SMDs. Healthcare managers and policymakers could in this way make use of these findings to improve MHNs’ performance in psychiatric wards and boost up the quality of nursing care for inpatients with such conditions. Clinical trial number Not applicable. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f5c2a6e1febe475b8b10ca3fc5bc2ce6 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-f5c2a6e1febe475b8b10ca3fc5bc2ce62025-08-20T03:03:38ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-07-0125111210.1186/s12888-025-07024-7Mental health nurses’ experiences of caring for inpatients with severe mental disorders: a qualitative studyRoghaieh Keykha0Naima Seyedfatemi1Seyedeh Narjes Mousavizadeh2Parvaneh Vasli3Department of Psychiatric Nursing and Management, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesGeriatric Mental Health Research Center, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Psychiatric Nursing and Management, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Community Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Patients with severe mental disorders (SMDs) often have complex needs that require long-term, multifaceted care. Exploring the experiences of mental health nurses (MHNs) in this context offers valuable insights into previously underexplored aspects of psychiatric care. The objective of the present study was to examine the experiences of MHNs in providing care for inpatients with SMDs in psychiatric wards in Iran. Methods This study used a qualitative research design based on conventional content analysis. The participants were 20 MHNs working in psychiatric wards in Iran, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews, with a mean duration of 45 min. The data were then analyzed using conventional content analysis, with the help of MAXQDA (ver.10) software. Results The data analysis reduced to the emergence of three main themes and 12 categories, including (1) “care based on the nature of the disease”, comprised of four categories, viz., disease symptoms and specific nature, nursing care to prevent harm to oneself and others, therapeutic communication, and central role of medicinal care; (2) “patient- and family- based care”, with four categories of personalized care, trust building, respecting, understanding, and accepting patients, and family education; and (3) “complex and burdensome care”, containing four categories, i.e., challenges in gender-based care, challenges due to disease symptoms, psychological complications of care, and physical complications of care. Conclusion The study results clarified three main themes associated with MHNs’ experiences of caring for inpatients with SMDs. Healthcare managers and policymakers could in this way make use of these findings to improve MHNs’ performance in psychiatric wards and boost up the quality of nursing care for inpatients with such conditions. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07024-7NurseCareSevere mental disordersQualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Roghaieh Keykha Naima Seyedfatemi Seyedeh Narjes Mousavizadeh Parvaneh Vasli Mental health nurses’ experiences of caring for inpatients with severe mental disorders: a qualitative study BMC Psychiatry Nurse Care Severe mental disorders Qualitative research |
| title | Mental health nurses’ experiences of caring for inpatients with severe mental disorders: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Mental health nurses’ experiences of caring for inpatients with severe mental disorders: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Mental health nurses’ experiences of caring for inpatients with severe mental disorders: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental health nurses’ experiences of caring for inpatients with severe mental disorders: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Mental health nurses’ experiences of caring for inpatients with severe mental disorders: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | mental health nurses experiences of caring for inpatients with severe mental disorders a qualitative study |
| topic | Nurse Care Severe mental disorders Qualitative research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07024-7 |
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