Role of Mental Health Nurses in Supporting Families and Facilitating Recovery for Patients with Schizophrenia: Review

Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia is a significant global health challenge, impacting the physical, psychological, and social well-being of affected individuals and their families. Recovery-oriented care, which emphasizes empowerment and self-determination, has emerged as the leading approach in mental health treatment. However, the role of Mental Health Nurses (MHNs) in implementing these services remains ambiguous, hindering effective recovery support.

Methods: An extensive integrative literature review was conducted across various databases, including ScienceDirect and Scopus, utilizing materials published from 1993 to 2023. The review focused on synthesizing both qualitative and quantitative studies related to recovery-oriented nursing practices for community-dwelling adults with schizophrenia.

Results: The findings revealed two main themes: direct nursing assistance and indirect nursing care. Direct care practices identified included therapeutic nurse-patient relationships, psychoeducation, cognitive behavioral therapy, coping skills training, medication adherence strategies, and social functioning skills training. Indirect care encompassed support activities that enhance the effectiveness of direct interventions, such as community integration and collaboration with peer support workers.

Conclusion: This review underscores the critical role of MHNs in facilitating recovery-oriented care for individuals with schizophrenia. Despite the challenges in defining their roles, MHNs can significantly impact recovery trajectories by fostering therapeutic relationships and integrating diverse support resources. Enhanced training and clearer role definitions are essential for optimizing nursing practices within recovery-oriented frameworks.