Help! I don’t feel safe : journeys of psychological safety shared by psychiatric nurses
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Issue Date
2022-11-15
Editor
Authors
Pontes-washtock, Diana
License
Subject
Abstract
This inquiry explored the psychological safety and coping strategies of registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs). The healthcare sector has struggled with workplace safety, bullying, and mental health support for nurses, all exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. In this inquiry, a storytelling method was employed in online interviews with five RPNs. Given that in the forensic workplace, organizational leaders have an important role in promoting psychological safety for RPNs, study participants sought support from a leader and the responses affected RPNs’ sense of safety in the workplace. Leaders’ capacity for empathy and inclusion were key elements in fostering a sense of psychological safety in the workplace. Organizational leadership as well as coworkers who judge, shame, are exclusive, and lack respect impact RPNs’ sense of psychological safety. Recommendations to foster psychological safety in the workplace are to model inclusive, empathetic, and open communication to encourage staff to adopt these approaches in the workplace.