Closing an open psychiatric ward: organizational change and its effect on staff uncertainty, self-efficacy, and professional functioning

Abstract

Purpose: Converting an open psychiatric ward to a closed one can be threatening and stressful for the medical and nursing staff involved. This study describes the effects of this change, in particular the before-after correlation among self-efficacy, professional functioning, and uncertainty.

Design and methods: Forty-four staff participated, completing pre-/poststructured questionnaires.

Findings: Uncertainty was higher before the conversion than after the conversion. Professional functioning declined after the conversion. Self-efficacy was positively correlated with pre- and postconversion functioning, but negatively correlated with postconversion uncertainty.

Practice implications: It is important to prepare staff for this significant organizational change. Suggestions for prechange interventions are offered.