Do nurses support the patient in his or her role as a parent in adult psychiatry? A survey of mental health nurses in Finland.

This study describes the extent to which registered and practical mental health nurses support, and consider the support in the units on parental responsibility in adult psychiatry, with regard to clients who are parents of dependent children and the predictors for this. A questionnaire survey was carried out in 2005 with Finnish practical and registered mental health nurses. Most nurses claimed that they support the well-being of parent clients and discuss with them about their children. At the units there is offered a support for parents in the therapeutic milieu and with managing at home with their parental duties. Nurses' ability to support their clients as parents and to recognize the support at the units increases through personal experiences such as being parent, professional experience, and further professional education.