The Care of Patients with Psychiatric Symptoms in General Hospitalisation Units: A Phenomenological Study

Introduction: The objective of this study was to explore the approach to patients with psychiatric symptoms by nursing professionals in general hospitalisation units in the city of Medellín, Colombia. Methods: A qualitative study with the method of interpretive phenomenology. 11 nursing professionals from general hospitalisation units in the city of Medellín, Colombia participated. The information analysis was processed according to the Phenomenological Interpretive Analysis method and with the support of the NVIVO Plus 12 software. Results: The nurses’ experience is described through three themes: representations of the patient with psychiatric symptoms, the patient as aggressive, violent and unpredictable; feeling fearful while providing care, caring for others in the midst of prevention, fear and stress, and being in a chaotic situation, a circumstance that gets out of control and alters the dynamics of the hospitalisation unit. Conclusions: Caring for patients with psychiatric symptoms is stressful, especially when nursing professionals perceive a lack of support from other colleagues and from the hospital administration. The above favours the development of alterations in the professional's physical and mental health.