Psychiatric nursing outcome research: The state of the science

A review of the nursing literature from 1989 to 1994 indicates that few psychiatric nursing studies are published in the major nursing research journals. The psychiatric specialization literature includes a large number of studies that are classified as either outcome studies or could serve as building blocks for future outcome studies. Few studies build on prior research, resulting in a weak scientific basis for evaluating the outcomes of psychiatric nursing care. Strategies for increasing the quantity and quality of psychiatric nursing outcome research are presented. ious version was presented at the Post Conference Research Institute: Outcome Research, co-sponsored by the Mental Health, Alcohol, and Aging Nursing Services, Clinical Center Nursing Department, National Institutes of Health, and the Society for Education and Research in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, November 5, 1994.