Challenges of Palliative Care in Psychiatric Nursing: Perceptions from Erada and Mental Health Complex

Abstract Background: Palliative care is a critical component of healthcare, aimed at improving the quality of life for patients with serious illnesses by addressing their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. In psychiatric nursing, palliative care presents unique challenges that require specialized approaches. This study explores these challenges from the perspectives of healthcare professionals at the Erada and Mental Health Complex. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional quantitative research design to investigate the challenges faced by psychiatric nurses in providing palliative care at the Erada and Mental Health Complex. Data were collected using structured questionnaires distributed to a representative sample of 169 psychiatric nurses. The questionnaire included sections on personal demographics, challenges at different levels (hospital, personal, home/hospice), and strategies adopted to mitigate these challenges. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (v. 21, IBM Corp.) to identify significant patterns and correlations within the data. Results:The socio-demographic characteristics of the participants showed a diverse group in terms of age, gender, and experience. Significant challenges at the hospital level included limited psychiatric services (59.17%) and restricted access to allied health professionals (47.34%). Personal-level challenges were dominated by fears of infection transmission (56.21%) and commuting difficulties (53.25%). Challenges in home and hospice-based services included limited NGO services (47.34%) and reduced facility admissions (38.46%). Strategies to mitigate these challenges included the implementation of triage systems (65.09%), telemedicine (62.13%), educational sessions for staff (59.17%), and stockpiling necessary medications and equipment (71.01%). Conclusion: Addressing the challenges of palliative care in psychiatric nursing requires comprehensive strategies, including improved access to allied health professionals, robust telemedicine infrastructure, continuous professional development, and adequate resource allocation. Effective mitigation of these challenges demands sustained institutional support, national policy initiatives, and global awareness to ensure high-quality palliative care in psychiatric settings.