Assessment of Knowledge on Psychiatric Emergencies among Staff Nurses

Abstract

Introduction: Psychiatric emergency is stress induced pathogenic response that physically endangers the affected individual or others that significantly disrupts the functional equilibrium of the individual or his/her environment and it requires immediate intervention whereas medical emergency is one which endanger the life of individual patient. Aim: The study aims to assess the knowledge on psychiatric emergencies among staff nurses at SRM general hospital, Kattankulathur, Kanchipuram district. Methodology: Non experimental-descriptive research design was used to assess the knowledge on psychiatric emergencies among staff nurses. The study was conducted at SRM general hospital, Kattankulathur, Kanchipuram district. 100 Staff nurses who were working at SRM general hospital were selected by Non -probability convenient sampling technique. The tool consisted of 2 sections. Section A dealt with demographic details of staff nurses and section B consisted of structured questionnaire to assess the knowledge on psychiatric emergencies among staff nurses. Results: The present study results reveals that, 47(47%) of them had inadequate knowledge on psychiatric emergencies, 30(30%) of them had moderately adequate knowledge on psychiatric emergencies and 23(23%) of them had adequate knowledge on psychiatric emergencies. Conclusion: With respect to the overall knowledge status of staff nurses, among 100 nurses majority 47% of the them had inadequate knowledge on psychiatric emergencies. So In service Education and Continuing Nursing Education programmes can be planned to improve staff nurse’s knowledge level on psychiatric emergencie