Abstract
M.Cur.
The challenges that face psychiatric nurses are related to a change of focus towards managed health care and rehabilitation. The emphasis is on speedy recovery and encouragement of independency. This gives rise to a need to educate psychiatric patients therapeutically, on an equal basis as partners. Thus, the focus is on psycho-education. The researcher observed that when psychiatric nurses conduct patient education it appears to be a one-way process. Unfortunately this paves the
way for the psychiatric patients to become dependent on psychiatric nurses for the maintenance of their needs. As a result this research was initiated.
In this research conclusions were drawn and guidelines were recommended on: Theoretical knowledge that supports psycho-education; Facilitated group work on attitudes that have an effect on psychoeducation; and Skills/techniques required in facilitating psycho-education.
These guidelines are for psychiatric nurses to implement psychoeducation in order to promote mental health of psychiatric patients. Limitations encountered were discussed and recommendations described under the following headings psychiatric nursing practice, psychiatric nursing education and psychiatric nursing research.