A Theoretical Framework for Conducting Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Virtual Care & Research

Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2023 Oct;44(10):1002-1008. doi: 10.1080/01612840.2023.2258213. Epub 2023 Nov 15.

Abstract

Despite rapid adoption and implementation, theoretical research considerations for virtual care (VC), defined simply as healthcare delivered using technology, are lacking across psychiatric mental health nursing (PMHN) scholarship. By adapting Hildegard Peplau's Interpersonal Relations Theory (IRT) and Media Richness Theory (MRT) using an intermodern and emancipatory knowing approach, a new framework was created for guiding modern PMHN VC research. Using this theoretical framework, readers can gain awareness of how the art and science of PMHN practice can be applied to VC scholarly endeavors in the modern healthcare space.

Plain language summary

Clear integration of nursing and media theories to inform modern psychiatric mental health nursing virtual care and respective clinical vignetteDetails how the art and science of psychiatric mental health nursing can be applied to virtual care and researchFuture research applications regarding psychiatric mental health nursing virtual care are providedAmple review of interpersonal relations theory in psychiatric mental health nursing practice.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Nurse-Patient Relations
  • Nursing Theory*
  • Psychiatric Nursing*