Self-perceptions’ knowledge, training, management and personal experience in psychiatric emergencies according to work experience: an explorative study among Italian nurses employed in the Emergency Departments

Abstract Background: In Italy, the number of incoming arrives in Emergency Departments (ED) that include psychiatric patients has significantly increased. To assess how ED nurses perceived their self-perceptions’ knowledge, the arguments of the greatest interest in the training and management of psychiatric emergencies and also personal experience in emergency psychiatric patients according to both nursing educational levels and work experience. Methods: An observational, cohort, cross-sectional and multicenter study was conducted from August to September 2022. Results: This study was completed with 413 Italian nurses surveyed. Knowledge in psychiatric emergency conditions was important for an emergency nurse (t=2.444, p=.015), and nurses considered as important current knowledge on issues of relevant to emergency psychiatry (t=3.516, p<.001). Significant associations were assessed between: nursing educational level and psychiatric aggressions received (t=-2.675, p=0.008) and arguments of interactions with psychiatric drugs (t=-2.106; p=0.036); with the hypochondriacally anxiety (t=-2.274; p=0.024); the hallucinated patients (t=2858; p=0.004); the use of counseling in psychiatric wards (t=1.555, p=0.121). Significant associations were recorded between work experience and pharmacological management of the psychiatric patients (t=-3.035; p=.003); psychiatric drugs in emergency (t=2.758; p=.006); medico-legal aspects in psychiatric emergencies (t=2.554; p=.011); the management of negative experiences of the multidisciplinary team towards the patient (t=-2.684; p=.008); patients who simulated (t=-2.138; p=.033). Conclusions: ED nurses required to perform their knowledge to identify the psychological and the physical signs and symptoms of psychological distress as well as the skills to provide appropriate care at the EDs, by improving nurses’ competencies to recognize and manage psychiatric patients.