Exploring the role of the nurse unit manager in forensic mental health inpatient units: A qualitative study

Abstract

Forensic mental health (FMH) inpatient settings are complex working environments at times due to a number of factors including the presence of challenging behaviours that may include violence and aggression, restrictions related to legislation, extended length of stay and the impact of trauma. Nurse unit managers (NUMs) play an important role in managing the unit environment and clinical standards of care to achieve better outcomes for consumers and staff. However, the role of NUMs in an FMH setting is poorly understood. The overall aim of this study was to explore the role of NUMs working within an FMH setting in Victoria, Australia. To our knowledge, this is the first study that has examined the subject. Data were collected via focus groups from n = 32 participants which included NUMs, their managers, staff who work alongside the NUMs and the staff the NUMs manage. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and four themes were interpreted from the data, (i) lack of role clarity, (ii) the importance of clinical Leadership and forensic mental health knowledge, (iii) step up in responsibility and step down in pay and (iv) seeing the difference you make. The role of the NUM within a forensic mental health setting comes with a number of challenges, but also opportunities to enact change. An ongoing effort to better support those employed within the NUM role and make the role desirable for aspiring staff is critical to the sustainability of a skilled clinical workforce and quality of care in this complex setting.

“The third wing of the plane”: Fathers' perceptions of their role in the treatment process for daughters with eating disorders

“…Rigour was applied as per Lincoln and Guba (1985) through the utilisation of the principles of confirmability, credibility, transferability, and dependability. Data analysis was a collaborative process, and regular reflexive conversations helped to enhance credibility and confirmability (Ahn & Shin, 2023;Maguire et al, 2023). To ensure dependability, an audit trail was maintained, and the steps involved in data collection and analysis are reported transparently (Peart et al, 2023;Roslee & Goh, 2021) to promote transferability, participant characteristics are reported, and illustrative quotations from a range of participants are provided (Goodwin et al, 2022).…”