THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF MENTAL HEALTH TECHNICIANS WORKING AT AN INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC UNIT SERVING RURALLY LOCATED PATIENTS

Savage, Maddison (2021) THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF MENTAL HEALTH TECHNICIANS WORKING AT AN INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC UNIT SERVING RURALLY LOCATED PATIENTS. Doctoral thesis, Northern Arizona University.

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Abstract

This qualitative Hermeneutic phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of four mental health technicians (MHTs) working at an inpatient behavioral health unit (BH unit) serving predominantly rurally-based patients. Their unique perspectives were shared to address the paucity in the literature with this specific population. In BH units, MHTs have the most direct patient interaction time (Buchbinder, 2003; Jenkins & Elliott, 2003) therefore research directed at MHTs is thought to create overarching benefits extending to patient care through combatting impairment and burnout. This study takes place at an inpatient BH unit that is situated within a medical hospital in the Southwest region of the United States. A demographic questionnaire, face-to-face semi-structured and unstructured interview questions were used, as well as researcher journaling to reflect on the interview process. Analysis utilized Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Participants identified rewarding aspects of their work (strong treatment team, feeling connected to their patients, and feeling appreciated), and perceived pitfalls of their work (aspects of work that felt out of MHTs’ control). Further, participants identified external barriers impacting rural patient outcomes (lack of follow up care and resources, and culture specific factors). Participants also reported strong overall wellness, which is attributed to their ability to overcome challenging work experiences. Proactively addressing wellness needs and awareness of one’s emotional triggers are also viewed as necessary to prevent lowered wellness and subsequent impairment in MHTs’ work. Finally, participants shared suggestions to improve and maintain job satisfaction (receiving ongoing supervision, better follow up services for rural patients) and spoke to the value of long-term staff on the unit. Additional research with larger sample size across multiple organizations will provide much needed data on job satisfaction, wellness, and burnout in front line staff on inpatient behavioral health units.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Publisher’s Statement:	© Copyright is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Cline Library, Northern Arizona University. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
Keywords:	Behavioral health technician; Health Psychology; Mental Health Technician; Wellness; Southwest (U.S.)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
MeSH Subjects:	F Psychiatry and Psychology > F01 Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status:	Student
Department/Unit:	Graduate College > Theses and Dissertations College of Education > Educational Psychology
Date Deposited:	14 Feb 2022 18:42
Last Modified:	14 Feb 2022 18:42
URI:	https://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/5698

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