The Impact of Organizational Factors and Government Policy on Psychiatric Nurses’ Family-Focused Practice With Parents Who Have Mental Illness, Their Dependent Children, and Families in Ireland

Government policy and organizational factors influence family-focused
practice (FFP) in adult mental health services. However, how these aspects
shape psychiatric nurses’ practice with parents who have mental illness,
their dependent children, and families is less well understood. Drawing on
the findings of a qualitative study, this article explores the way in which
Irish policy and organizational factors might influence psychiatric nurses’
FFP, and whether (and how) FFP might be further promoted. A purposive
sample of 14 psychiatric nurses from eight mental health services completed
semi-structured interviews. The analysis was inductive and presented as
thematic networks. Both groups described how policies and organizational
culture enabled and/or hindered FFP, with differences between community
and acute participants seen. This study indicates a need for policies and
organizational supports, including child and family skills training, to promote
a whole family approach in adult mental health services.