Analysis of Educational Needs for Mental Health Nursing Competency - Focused on Non-psychiatric Nurses

The purpose of this study is to explore the educational needs for the development of a mental health nursing competency enhancement program for non-psychiatric nurses. The research participants were non-psychiatric nurses from a specific hospital, and a qualitative content analysis was conducted using focus group interviews. The results categorized the educational needs of non-psychiatric nurses into three areas: educational content, educational methods, and educational environment. In terms of educational content, four topics were identified: “intervention techniques for safety”, “nursing interventions based on symptoms”, “information related to transfer from psychiatric wards”, and “reporting guidelines” The educational methods included “case-based education”, “step-by-step simulation training”, “empathy-based experiential learning”, and “manual-based education” The educational environment was categorized into two themes: “implementation of an environment similar to clinical situation” and “an environment that allows for repetitive training” In conclusion, the focus group interviews with non-psychiatric nurses provided insights into their educational needs for mental health nursing competencies. The findings can serve as foundational data for the development of a mental health nursing competency enhancement program.