Nurses' leadership in psychiatric care—A qualitative interview study of nurses' experience of leadership in an adult psychiatric inpatient care setting
Authors: Sundberg Kajsa , Vistrand Cecilia , Sjöström Karin , Örmon Karin 
Published: March 2021

Accessible Summary

What is known on the subject?

Previous studies on leadership in psychiatric care have focussed on a diversity of staff and on different healthcare settings.

Nurses in both Sweden and internationally, working with patients newly diagnosed with psychosis and addiction, describe an overwhelming workload.

Existing research points out that experience and leadership training are the most important factors to exert a good nursing leadership. In Sweden, requirements for leadership exists already from the first day of a nurse's career.

The relationship and communication between nurses in psychiatric care and members of the staff is decisive for whether the leadership will work.

What the paper adds to existing knowledge

The study adds knowledge regarding the challenges leading the nursing care for patients diagnosed with psychosis and addiction.

Ambivalence in the leadership role is prominent among nurses in psychiatric care and feelings of responsibility and meaningfulness are mixed with feelings of powerlessness and uncertainty.

Swedish psychiatric nurses lack mandate to lead psychiatric nursing care. This may increase the feelings of uncertainty in their leadership role.

What are the implications for practice?

A mandate to lead as well as a leadership guidance in communication and teambuilding will enhance the leadership, especially among newly graduated nurses.

Heightened awareness within the healthcare organization about nurse's experience of difficulties in leading the psychiatric nursing care of the most severe psychiatric illnesses could increase the right prerequisites for leadership.

Introduction

Research shows that psychiatric nursing care puts additional demands on the nurse as a leader due to the psychological complexity of care. Experience and leadership training are most important to exert leadership. In Sweden, demands for leadership exist already at the beginning of a nursing career, and in psychiatry, it may lead to an overwhelming workload.

Aim/Question

The aim of the present study is to highlight nurses' experiences of leading the psychiatric nursing care in an adult psychiatric context.

Method

A qualitative interview study of eleven registered nurses within psychiatric inpatient care. Content analysis was used for analysis.

Results

Leading with combined feelings of both meaningfulness and uncertainty were the theme arising from the result.

Discussion

Findings from Swedish and international studies stress special demands on leadership in psychiatric care. The result shows that nurses perceived an ambivalence of their leadership in terms of both meaningfulness and uncertainty.

Implications for Practice

An official mandate to lead as well as leadership guidance in communication and teambuilding will enhance leadership, especially among newly graduated nurses. Heightened awareness within healthcare organizations about difficulties in leading psychiatric nursing care could increase the possibility to create right prerequisites for leadership.