The daily experience of mental health nursing in providing care for women with psychosis

The lived experience of psychosis is closely associated with the person’s potential for recovery. Therefore a better understanding of this experience will enable service providers to address the gaps in service delivery and improve overall outcomes for people with psychosis. This study investigated how nurses working in mental health in Saudi Arabia understand psychosis and the psychotic experience. It also explored nurses& attitudes towards caring for women with psychosis. To examine this phenomenon, we opted to utilise van Manen’s methodology due to its features and its appropriateness to the research area. Ethical approval was received from the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee, in addition to both hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in which the data was collected. Twenty-one mental health nurses participated in the study. Demographic data were collected via short surveys, which were followed by a series of individual audio- recorded semi-structured in-depth interviews to explore their experiences. Data were analysed in accordance with van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenological method. From the initial analysis the following themes emerged: knowledge and experience; understanding of psychosis symptoms; attitudes and responses; barriers for care; recommendations to improve care. Subthemes were identified within each theme and included information and training deficits; cultural and language barriers; stigma; discrimination and attitudes; workforce and scope of practice issues. Recommendations by participants relate to service and facility improvement; training and supervision for nurses; adequate qualified staffing and appreciation from management. Implementing these recommendations will improve practice and enhance nurses’ understanding of psychosis and enhance recovery for consumers.