Conference poster
Contemporary issues in mental health nursing: Diagnostic practice
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, Vol.27(Supplement 1), p.6
International Mental Health Nursing Conference: Mental Health is a Human Right, 44th (Cairns, Australia, 24-Oct-2018–26-Oct-2018)
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia
2018
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Accurate diagnosis of mental health conditions is imperative. Without an accurate diagnosis,treatment and management of the condition becomes challenging, and this can impact on health and wellbeing and may result in suboptimal care. Diagnosis has traditionally been an exclusive responsibility of medicine, however within Australia, contemporary practice of the mental health nurse role has expanded to incorporate application of a provisional diagnosis. This is contentious because diagnostic practice privileges empirical decision making processes, in contrast to the inductive decision making methods that are often used by mental health nurses. Previous research suggests mental health nurses lack the knowledge and understanding required to provide provisional diagnosis. Little is known about the factors influencing decision making surrounding diagnostic practice in mental health nursing. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe and analyse the clinical decision-making processes used by mental health nurses across a variety of clinical settings to achieve a provisional diagnosis. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted using the online databases CINHAL, Pubmed and Proquest. Peer reviewed literature published between 2007 and 2017 relevant to clinical decision making and diagnostic practice was used. We used the Arskey and O'malley (2005) framework to guide the scoping review. FINDINGS: Two main themes were identiï¬ed; (1) factors influencing clinical decision making and (2) factors influencing diagnostic practice in mental health nursing. We found organisational factors such as policy and procedure, as well as clinician factors such as education, experience and the use of tacit knowledge influenced diagnostic practice. There was a clear overlap between factors influencing clinical decision making and diagnostic practice. CONCLUSION: Little is known about the use of diagnostic practice in mental health nursing, however, we identiï¬ed an overlap between the factors which influence clinical decision making and diagnostic practice respectively. Further research is needed into the contemporary issue of the use of diagnostic practice in mental health nursing to develop frameworks to assist with clinical decision making and diagnosis. It is hoped this will enhance accurate diagnosis ensuring better treatment and health outcomes.
Details
- Title
- Contemporary issues in mental health nursing: Diagnostic practice
- Authors
- Katrina J Campbell (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringDeborah Massey (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringMarc Broadbent (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringKaren-Ann Clarke (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
- Publication details
- International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, Vol.27(Supplement 1), p.6
- Conference details
- International Mental Health Nursing Conference: Mental Health is a Human Right, 44th (Cairns, Australia, 24-Oct-2018–26-Oct-2018)
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia
- Date published
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.1111/inm.12539
- ISSN
- 1445-8330; 1445-8330
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Nursing; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine - Legacy; School of Health - Midwifery
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451423402621
- Output Type
- Conference poster
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