What is it about?

This article summarizes the keynote address delivered at the American Psychiatric Nurses Association national conference October 28, 2015 in Orlando, FL. The presentation framed the context of the health care environment in which nurses are uniquely positioned to take a leadership role in redesigning delivery models of care.

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Why is it important?

Nurses comprise the largest group of health care providers (3.4 million RNs) representing 37% of the healthcare workforce, are recognized as the most trusted profession by the public, are committed to patient advocacy in tackling ethical health care issues, and are uniquely positioned to champion integrated health care that is high quality, evidence-based, patient-centered, and cost-effective.

Perspectives

While there are insufficient numbers of mental health specialists across all disciplines to meet the workforce demands, Psychiatric-Mental Health (PMH) Nurses can take a leadership role in shaping integrated health care delivery systems that provide a holistic / biopsychosocial approach, use a health and wellness orientation with individuals, families, and communities (rather than an illness model), focus on patient-centered care, inclusion of patients and families in decision making, and integrate science/technology/relationships to personalized patient care experience across services and settings. PMH nurses can educate and equip nurse generalists with basic mental health nursing skills to provide prevention and early intervention for individuals with low to moderate acuity mental health problems and to screen, identify, and refer individuals with high acuity mental health problems for specialist care. A tiered system of integrated care across health care settings offers a more efficient use of the existing health care workforce.

Dr Susie M. Adams
Vanderbilt University

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Collaborating in an Evolving Health Care System, Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, January 2016, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/1078390316629151.
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