Binary construct analysis of forensic psychiatric nursing in the UK: High, medium and low security services

Abstract

The aim of this study was to idenfity if differences in perceptions of the role of forensic psychiatric nurses exist across the three levels of secure psychiatric provision: high, medium and low. Any differences may reflect the type of clinical conditions found in different levels of security provision. An information gathering schedule containing a validated 7-point Likert scale was distributed to 1200 forensic psychiatric nurses across the UK in 2005. A response rate of 34.6 was achieved, with 122 from high-security, 159 from medium-securitya nd 135 from low-security services. Differences in perceptions regarding role constructs were found across all three levels, with numerous differences being statistically significant using analysis of variance. The implications are in relation to the development of skills and competencies, which should target specific clinical conditions in relation to effective interventions, the development of a specialist education and training curriculum focused on treatment outcomes and the need for further research to draw together theory and practice. Finally, creative policy initiatives should be developmed to cross-fertilize the levels of security provision in order that staff may acquire and deliver experiences in high, medium and low security psychiatric services.