BACKGROUND: A group of hospital emergency department nurses formed a virtual community within the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) to explore who and what skills are best suited to provide care for patients with psychiatric disorders in hospital emergency departments. OBJECTIVE: The Emergency Department Nurse work group, under the auspices of APNA’s Institute for Safe Environments, developed a survey to help describe the role and function of the psychiatric nurse in hospital emergency departments and to determine needs for training and competencies. DESIGN: The 25-item survey was sent via an email link to all APNA members. RESULTS: Responses from 520 nurses show consensus for the title of “psychiatric emergency department nurse,” whose primary role is to provide “crisis management.” A need for education in advanced medical assessment was identified. CONCLUSION: It is critical that we provide a professional practice context to assist nurses working in emergency departments.
