Abstract
People living with serious mental illness (SMI) experience substantial physical health inequalities,
contributing to significantly reduced life expectancy and increased mortality from preventable physical
conditions. Mental health nurses (MHNs) play a critical role in addressing these disparities, particularly
during initial inpatient admission, a key opportunity for physical health assessment and intervention. This
study explored MHNs’ lived experiences of delivering physical health care during first inpatient admission
using a descriptive phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 MHNs
working in acute psychiatric admission wards, and data were analysed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method.
Five themes emerged: competing priorities at admission, role ambiguity, knowledge and confidence deficits,
organisational barriers, and commitment to holistic care. Findings revealed that physical health care is
frequently overshadowed by psychiatric priorities, while staffing shortages, limited resources, and unclear
professional responsibilities further constrain practice. Strengthening integrated care pathways, workforce
development, and physical health training is essential to reducing health inequalities among individuals with
SMI.