Niall McCrae explores barriers to one-to-one patient contact and how these might be overcome by allowing space for skilled nurses to offer therapeutic interventions
Protected engagement time in mental health inpatient units is a fixed period each day during which administrative activities and visiting are suspended so that nurses can focus on individual patient contact. However, there are a number of barriers to implementing this strategy effectively, which include high workloads, staff shortages and lack of supervision to support therapeutic interventions. This article discusses some of these barriers and suggests that managers of acute psychiatric units should ensure that patients have appropriate emotional support, and that skilled mental health nurses should be supported to devote time to therapeutic interventions.
Nursing Management. 21, 1, 28-31. doi: 10.7748/nm2014.03.21.1.28.e1179
Correspondence Peer reviewThis article has been subject to double blind peer review
Conflict of interestNone declared
Received: 02 January 2014
Accepted: 26 February 2014
or
Alternatively, you can purchase access to this article for the next seven days. Buy now
Are you a student? Our student subscription has content especially for you.
Find out more