2022 Volume 31 Issue 2 Pages 19-27
This study aims to clarify the conflict felt by psychiatric nurses when faced with the repeated hospitalization and discharge of middle-aged patients and considers measures to promote discharge support. Semi-structured interviews were conducted of 20 nurses. Analysis using the Modified Grounded Theory Approach revealed 19 concepts, 8 categories and 1 core category.
Nurses experienced a sense of powerlessness and “compromised with themselves” in interactions with patients because of their role. During hospitalization, a sense of discomfort due to this disconnect, including a sense of discomfort with the patient’s family, the patient themselves and impatience with negligent attitudes, deepened feelings of conflict and resulted in the evasion of discharge support and frustration at not providing support. Although some nurses showed awareness of a sense of disconnect, it did not lead to the provision of discharge support.
Nurses were unable to bridge the disconnect with patients and family, and their anger was projected onto patients of the same generation. Results indicat the need for nurses to participate in home visits and job assistance to visualize life after discharge.
