Using Education to improve the Perceptions of Registered Nurses and Mental Health Technicians on Milieu Therapy to Enhance Mental and Physical Well-Being and to Support Recovery in a Behavioral Health Unit: A Quality Improvement Project

Date of Award

Summer 2024

Project Type

Thesis

College or School

CHHS

Department

Nursing

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Elizabeth Evans

Second Advisor

Pamela Kallmerten

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Milieu Therapy is the standard of practice in psychiatric facilities. Evidence suggests providing a therapeutic milieu can improve patient outcomes, reduce risk, optimize communication, reduce unhelpful stimulation, shorten length of stay, and promote healthy intervention (Macallister, 2019). Additional evidence suggests that increasing patient's positive social interactions can enhance their coping skills and relationship skills (Macallister, 2019). However, perceptions of nurses and mental health technicians must be obtained for successful implementation of milieu therapy.

Local Problem: Milieu therapy is a standard of practice; however, it was not consistently completed. It was imperative to assess the perceptions of nurses and mental health technicians regarding milieu therapy. To better improve milieu therapy, the barriers needed to be addressed.

Methods: Disseminating the Plan Do Study Act framework on a behavioral health unit over six weeks, nurses and mental health technicians were surveyed about their perceptions on milieu therapy. The survey data was studied using Qualtricstm and the Likert scale.

Intervention: An educational PowerPointtm presentation was presented to nurses and mental health technicians and digitally disbursed to others who did not attend the presentation. A post survey was disseminated two weeks later to assess any changes in nurses and mental health technician's perceptions.

Results: Following the educational material, the post survey results indicated a 75% increase in nurse and mental health technician's perceptions of providing milieu therapy.

Conclusion: The available knowledge on milieu therapy discusses the exponential reasons it is the standard of care in psychiatric settings. The studies discuss the importance of staff education being implemented to enhance the benefits with milieu therapy. This quality improvement project utilized education to enhance the perceptions of milieu therapy with good success. A pilot program and further education should be implemented to determine usability and patient benefits on the behavioral health unit.

Comments

A Quality Improvement Project

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