Abstract

Abstract: Background: The experiences of emergency department nurses in caring for involuntarily admitted psychiatric patients have been under-documented in Taiwan. The aim of this study was to understand the lived experience of emergency nurses in Taiwan who care for patients who require involuntary admission in the acute phase. Methods: This study employed a phenomenological methodology. Ten emergency nurses were interviewed. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Results: Four major themes emerged in relation to the implementation of care for involuntarily admitted psychiatric patients: Unclear laws and regulations, nurses’ stereotyped perceptions, patient-related risks, and nurses’ defense mechanisms. Conclusion: The results showed that emergency nurses experienced a range of challenges when caring for psychiatric patients who had been involuntarily admitted. It is recommended that relevant policies be revised to clarify the responsibilities of the various stakeholders in relation to involuntary admission to improve the safety of emergency nurses in the workplace and the quality of emergency psychiatric care.