Facilitating recovery-oriented practice in acute inpatient psychiatric care settings through appreciative inquiry

Significant efforts have been made to incorporate recovery-oriented practice (ROP) throughout the mental health service arena; however, implementing ROP in acute inpatient psychiatric care settings has proven to be challenging. The purpose of this research study was to explore how psychiatric nurses best engage in ROP in acute inpatient psychiatric care settings through the lens of Appreciative Inquiry. Four acute care psychiatric nurses who identified as practicing from a recovery-oriented lens were interviewed using semi-structured interviews designed to elicit best practice experiences. Interpretive phenomenological analysis was used to understand the nurses’ experience of providing ROP. Data analysis revealed superordinate themes of (1) recovery-oriented practices and (2) barriers and recommendations. The findings demonstrated that the practices described by participants reflected the recovery literature to an extent, but appeared to be more in line with the ideals of relationship based psychiatric nursing practice. Further, the barriers and recommendations for ROP in acute inpatient psychiatric care settings suggested the need for a larger system change in order for psychiatric nurses to engage in practice that supports recovery. Themes that emerged hinted at a recovery-oriented practice dream, perhaps through the fostering of relationship based psychiatric nursing practice.