discussed in each of the three focus group meetings, were written down.
The statements fromthe focus group meetingswere next summarized by
the first and third author for each of the items fromthe top five list. These
summaries provided a description of the nursing perspective on the
patient problems, desired outcomes, and nursing interventions of most
importance in the care for patients hospitalized with mania.
After consensus between the authors was attained, a member check
was performed. All of the focus group participants received a summary
of the results of the focus group interviews and were asked to provide
feedback. Five of themreacted: four agreedwith the text; the other suggested
the addition of a few more words for two of the items.
This focus group feedback was evaluated; a few changes were made
to the summary of the results; and the text was then finalized.
Throughout the study, a logbook was kept of all thoughts, insights,
and ideas discussed during the research process.
RESULTS
The individual interviewswere heldwith a total of 22 nurses: twelve
female and ten male. The nurses ranged in age from24 to 53 years with
a mean of six and a half years (SD: 4.2) of nursing experience on the
ward where they currently worked. The nurses had all been trained to
care for patients with different types of psychiatric disorders and were
thus generalists.
Three focus group meetings were organized in different parts of the
Netherlands. All of the nurses were invited to attend the meetings. In
the end, 13 agreed to participate. Four nurses coming from the same
nursing team attended to the first focus group meeting. Four from another
nursing team attended the second focus group meeting. Another
five nurses coming from three wards representing two organizations
attended the third focus group meeting. Seven of the 13 nurses attending
the meetings were women and six were men.
In Table 2, an overview of the patient problems, desired patient outcomes,
and nursing interventions mentioned in the individual interviews
is presented. We will consider the top five in each category in
greater detail in the following and illustrate each of the top five items
with a quote from those who participated in the focus group meetings.
Top Five Patient Problems
1. Disturbed day–night rhythm
According to the nurses, patients with mania do not sleep—not by