Theoretical Approaches to Psychiatric Nursing

Psychiatric nursing is the field of nursing in which nurses work with individuals, groups and families to assess their mental health needs and to develop and deliver a plan of care.

Role of Nursing Theory

• Nursing theories offer an organized framework to guide the delivery of nursing care. They help to establish a common vocabulary that can describe, predict and control events within the nursing process.

Types of Theory

• The Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing introductory course at Wright State University teaches that there are several types of theory applicable to psychiatric nursing. Intrapersonal theories focus on the anxiety in and the defense mechanisms of patients, as well as stages of development. Social-interpersonal theories include Maslow's hierarchy of needs and Hildegarde Peplau's theory of the therapeutic relationship between nurse and client. Behavioral and cognitive theories consider how people behave and think, while biogenic theories deal with environmental and genetic influences.

Current Theories

• Current psychiatric nursing theories consider other aspects of the nurse-client relationship, and the clients themselves. Some theories deal with caring, cultural care diversity and universality. Others look at modeling and role modeling, and non-traditional areas such as energy fields and human becoming.