Psychiatric aides' perceptions of the nurse-patient relationship

This thesis reports a study in which the Whiting Q-sort methodology of assessing values and perceptions in relation to patient care has been applied to psychiatric aids in a state mental hospital which conducts a pre-service training program. The aim has been to assess those aspects of nursing care-physical care, supportive emotional care, liaison, and patient education-considered of greater and of lesser importance by a group of psychiatric aids (1) before a pre-service education program, (2) at the end of the pre-service education program, and (3) after the trainees have spent one month caring for mental ill patients.