Each month, the Research Council Steering Committee features an APNA member.
This month, we are featuring Kathy Delaney!
Kathy Delaney
Areas of research that I move between are inpatient treatment and the psychiatric mental health workforce. At first glance they seem disparate but reflect clinical interests and also opportunities I responded to. My dissertation focused on patients’ perceptions of treatment on inpatient units and I have maintained interest in that topic, most recently, in the development of a patient/staff perception of treatment instrument, the CAPE. When I started in this area, hospitals would not permit me to conduct patient interviews unless a physician/psychologist was on my committee. In dealing with these barriers, the support of nurse leaders at the institutions was invaluable. I stay involved in this area by participation in APNA’s Safe Environments Council. Just a word about my workforce research which began with an opportunity to be on a federal committee studying the interdisciplinary behavioral workforce. Our group penned the chapters in the SAMSHA publications, Mental Health United States 2000, 2002. It is important to say “yes” to opportunities to be involved with state and federal projects around mental health. From participation on such committees, one learns a great deal but also begins to see the landscape that influences your area of interest, here the optimum use of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing workforce. Staying involved with APNAs efforts to increase PMH workforce visibility and understanding of its capabilities has facilitated this work moving forward. The committee asked advice for those contemplating this career path. Please consider a focus on developing the nursing science around inpatient treatment. It is such vital work with individuals at a time of significant vulnerability. The future may lie in international collaborations around topics such as nurse sensitive outcomes. Finally, if provided with the opportunity, become involved in your State Nursing Workforce Center. Thanks to the APNA research group for this opportunity.
Posted on behalf of the Research and Scholarship Council.
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