OMBUDSMAN - A NEW ROLE FOR ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES IN PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL-HEALTH NURSING

TOPIC. The role of ombudsman for advanced practice nurses in psychiatr ic mental health nursing. PURPOSE. TO describe the role of ombudsman a nd its fit with nursing as seen in the Price Spratlen Ombudsing Model. SOURCE. The author's own experiences as both an advanced practice nur se and an ombudsman. CONCLUSION. Because of no downsizing, reorganizat ion, and a general trend toward mutual distrust in large organizations , being an ombudsman has been named one of the ''25 hottest careers.'' Advanced practice nurses in psychiatric mental health nursing, by vir tue of their knowledge of interpersonal, preventive, and systems theor ies, are in a unique position to fill this role.