A balancing act. Continuing education for staff nurses

Basic nursing education programs prepare nurses as generalists. Continuing education programs for psychiatric nurses are needed to provide additional knowledge and expertise in this specialty area. 2. This educational program was developed for psychiatric staff nurses who have completed their orientation but are new to their institution or to the psychiatric clinical area. 3. Content of the program includes an overview of theories, therapeutic relationships, psychiatric terminology, the nursing process as it relates to patients with psychiatric problems, psychotropic medications, electroconvulsive therapy, and DSM-III R. 4. A pretest based on the content of this program can help assess the learning needs of each new nurse. The nurse may then attend the entire program or only specific parts based on individualized needs.