Abstract
In this study, six proficient psychiatric nurses were interviewed regarding the reaction of patients with depression and the intervention process required for the support of hospital discharge. Qualitative analysis on the interview results extracted 12 reactions required for the support of hospital discharge, including "communication with other patients," "confusion when faced with reality," and "recovery of the capability to realistically control oneself." Four intervention factors required of the nurses for the support of hospital discharge include: 1) "determining the potential of patients," "encouraging patients to expand their activities," "expanding patients' coping by taking their confusion as chance," and "expanding the potential of patients to realistically control themselves." The nurses supported patients to recover their potential to realistically control themselves. To provide the support of hospital discharge at the early phase of hospitalization, nurses should continuously show interest in their patients, understand the potential of patients, care for the patients by sufficiently taking into consideration the changes over time in the their status, and make the patients conscious of their improvement. Overall, nurses should support hospital discharge by sharing concrete problems with patients and support patients to recover their potential to realistically control themselves.
