A study of nursing personnel perceptions of hostile patient behavior.

This study of differences in perceptions of one type of behavior of mentally-ill patients has revealed many significant differences in the perceptions of the nursing personnel studied. Undoubtedly the way in which the nursing personnel perceived patient behavior influences their relationships with patients. This study would then suggest that there may be many differences in observations, reporting, recording, and treatment of the patients being cared for by the nursing personnel responding to this study. A study of differences in perceptions of patients' behavior should be considered only as a first step in evaluating the nursing care given mentally-ill patients. The stimulation to explore differences in perceptions, to evaluate the reasons for the differences and the affects that the differences have on the relationships and attitudes between nursing personnel and patients should influence the behavior of the patients and ultimately assist in the recovery of the patient. The findings suggest a need for more skill in the observation of the behavior of mentally-ill patients. Skill in observation and better understanding of the behavior observed would lead to identification of situations provoking the hostile behavior and to the providing of a more effective therapeutic climate for the patients by the nursing personnel.