Recent Trends and Issues in Psychiatric—Mental Health Nursing
Deanna R. Pearlmutter R.N.,Ed.D.1
1 The Psychiatric Nursing Service Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
New and emerging roles for psychiatric-mental health nurses, certification programs for graduate and experienced baccalaureate nurses, and the emergence of clinical nursing research are only some of the many changes occurring in the field of psychiatric- mental health nursing that have resulted in a burgeoning literature. Through a review of the most recent of this literature, the author highlights the current trends and issues in psychiatric-mental health nursing practice, education, and research, as well as the historical antecedents of many of the issues and problems facing mental health nurses today.
