Evaluating forensic psychiatric nursing care

Abstract

This article offers a report of the findings of a study of nursing care in a medium secure unit. The study involved all of the nursing staff of the unit. Data were collected through the use of questionnaires, interviews and diaries. Frequency counting and content analysis of these revealed a range of views about the care offered in the unit. Those views covered issues ranging from the atmosphere in the unit to management and educational issues. The findings suggested that the workforce was generally positive in its view of care in the unit, that the nursing staff were committed to providing an client-centred, quality service. However, issues which occurred frequently were those of the tension between security and therapy in the unit and the adequacy or otherwise of staffing levels. The article closes with a discussion of the various findings and offers suggestions for future directions.

Key Words:

• forensic nursing
• evaluation
• audit