Nurses' experiences of providing mental health care: a grounded theory approach.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to find out the nurses' experiences of providing mental healthcare. Research question was "What are the experiences of nurses providing mental health nursing care?" The setting was at Mental Health Hospital, Yangon. Nine nurses participated with service ranging between 3 months and 33 years. The data were collected through interviews, field notes, observation, audio-taped recording, memos and written materials. Data were analyzed by using QSR NVivo software. For data analysis, 5 phases and 9 steps of building theory was used through the grounded theory methodology. For the first cases, open ended questions were used however, semi-structured questions were used for the third participants to the ninth participants. The finding highlighted the research question of mental healthcare. The core category was "Chores Care" and five broad subcategories: providing direct care, managing in care, managing patient environment, medical and collaborative activity and education information emerged. The terms Chores Care, nurse, patient, colleagues, community, family, environment, experience, nursing, and health were operationally defined. The performances of participants who care for mental illness were same as parents who nurture and care their children. All in-patients were provided care by participants who had suitable responsibilities to protect them. It was recommended to implicate the emergent theory to general health care setting, to test the theory and to conduct further study about mental health nursing care in various aspects. By using Chores Care theory, nurses can give light for nursing education and improve quality nursing care in Myanmar.