Evaluating the role of a Psychiatric Consultation-Liaison Nurse in the Australian General Hospital.

The importance of Psychiatric Consultation-Liaison Nursing (PCLN) in improving health outcomes for patients experiencing mental health problems has received some attention in the nursing literature. However, little effort has been made to evaluate the impact of this role. The study presented in this paper was conducted in order to assist in redressing this paucity. Focus groups were conducted with nurses (n = 17) employed at a large general hospital in Melbourne, Australia. The nurse participants were asked to discuss their views about utilizing the services of the specialist PCLN employed in this hospital. The responses of participants were overwhelmingly positive. The four main themes to emerge from the study were: helping staff, making contact, implementing strategies, and utilizing attributes. These findings are presented and discussed as a contribution to and extension of the existing literature.