" I want to go home, but I need to stay": The transition to become ready for discharge from acute psychiatric wards, as narrated by persons who experienced acute psychotic illness

Abstract

<p><i>Background:</i> Discharge planning for persons with psychotic illness who are admitted to acute psychiatric wards is critical for decreasing the well-known risk of new phases of psychosis and early readmissions after discharge from the ward. There is limited knowledge about admitted persons’ experience of their readiness for discharge from acute psychiatric wards. This study aims to describe and understand how persons with psychotic illness experience to become ready for discharge during their stay on an acute psychiatric ward. <p><i>Method:</i> During their hospital stay, 12 persons who recently had acute psychotic illness were interviewed about their experiences related to their upcoming discharge. The recorded interviews were transcribed and content analysed. <p><i>Results:</i> The results describe the participants experienced three phases of transition to become ready for discharge after their psychosis had decreased: 1) Being affected by wounds following acute psychotic illness, 2) Being in need for strength to feel better before discharge, and 3) Being ready for discharge. <p><i>Conclusion:</i> This experiential knowledge informs the transitional care that mental health nurses provide to persons during the discharge process. In addition to developing plans for discharge and for further mental health care in the community together with persons in care, nurses must seriously consider persons’ mental health care needs following psychosis to support the best of outcome of the transition to become ready for discharge.