Mental Health Nurses' Responses to Consumers' Experiences of Safewards in Acute Inpatient Mental Health Units: A Qualitative Exploratory Study

INTRODUCTION: Safewards effectively reduces restrictive practices within acute inpatient mental health units. Consumers' experiences of Safewards impact on broader experiences within these settings. Given the influence mental health nurses have on consumers' experiences, nurses' responses to these experiences require further exploration. AIM: To explore the responses of mental health nurses to consumers' experiences of Safewards within acute inpatient mental health units. METHODS: A qualitative exploratory method was used for this study, involving semi-structured focus groups with mental health nurses from two acute inpatient mental health units. Participants were asked to respond to a summary of themes about consumers' experiences of Safewards. RESULTS: Thematic analysis uncovered three themes: (1) Prioritising respectful communication and investing time with consumers; (2) Relating Safewards to everyday work with consumers; (3) Safewards and its impact on restrictive practices. DISCUSSION: Participants acknowledged consumers' experiences of Safewards and their frustrations when mental health nurses were unavailable. Some participants expressed uncertainty about the suitability of Safewards, despite consumers' endorsement, highlighting a possible discrepancy between mental health nurses' and consumers' views. Most participants perceived Safewards to be effective but inconsistently applied, in part due to varying acceptance and understanding of Safewards. LIMITATIONS: Differences between the units may not be captured in combined data analyses and other views about the consumers' experiences of Safewards may not be represented. Researcher bias may have influenced the way in which data were collected, analysed and reported. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Safewards requires partnership between mental health nurses and consumers, and a more nuanced understanding of its application within an acute inpatient mental health setting to realise its full potential. Task-based approaches that hinder mental health nurse engagement with consumers may impact Safewards' effectiveness. RECOMMENDATIONS: Discrepancies between the views of mental health nurses and consumers' experiences require further exploration. Increasing consumers' involvement in the everyday application of Safewards should be considered.