2022 Volume 31 Issue 2 Pages 1-9
In Japan, private psychiatric hospitals account for around 90% of the overall psychiatric hospitals. Literature showed that psychiatric hospitals have a high rate of job separation than general hospitals among new graduate nurses. This study aimed to explore psychiatric nursing experiences and consider ways to support new graduate nurses. We explored the psychiatric nursing care experience of eight new graduate nurses who worked at private psychiatric hospitals trough semi-structured interviews. The results were classified into two themes: (a) struggle of continuing to work as a psychiatric nurse and (b) the experience of an empowering and fascinating patient care. Over half of the participants experienced some violence from hospitalized patients, which is one of the factors considered for job separation. Another factor was, failing to establish a relationship with hospitalized patients, causing their loss of self-confidence on psychiatric care. Conversely, all participants were confident about the psychiatric care provided to hospitalized patients and the experience that might attract new graduate nurses. To support new graduate nurses to continue their job, two approach can be considered: creating opportunities to listen to narratives from senior mentors and establishing a peer support group among new graduate nurses.
