Abstract
The purpose of this study was to elucidate methods of nursing care for psychiatric patients with physical diseases. Data was collected through participant observations while the researcher intervened to provide support for the nurses' care for the psychiatric patients with physical diseases. The data were analyzed qualitatively, focusing on the methods of nursing care. The subjects of the study were four psychiatric patients with physical diseases and the nurses who cared for them. The study found in conclusion that nursing care for psychiatric patients with physical diseases can have the following characteristics; " nursing care to ensure that patients with strong delusions can receive proper physical therapy," "nursing care to encourage independence in patients with mainly negative symptoms," "nursing care to encourage independence in patients with anxiety" and "nursing care for patients with physical symptoms of unknown origin in order to permit the early discovery of abnormalities" As methods of nursing care, "easing stress that accompanies physical treatments," "cooperating with other health care professions" and "observing the patients closely" were common to all four cases, suggesting their importance.
