Promoting mental health nursing: employing undergraduate nursing students as assistants in mental health

The difficulty in attracting graduates of nursing programmes into mental health nursing (MHN) remains an ongoing challenge. Moreover, it is frequently claimed that undergraduate nursing students do not always regard MHN favourably for future employment. Although undergraduate nurses are employed as assistants in nursing (AIN) in mental health settings, there is no published research exploring their role, the career trajectory into MHN, or its effectiveness as a recruitment strategy. In this paper, we draw on the literature to delineate factors that might contribute to the desire of AIN to work in MHN. Nine factors were identified: acceptance by nurses, fitting in with the culture, managing the workload, developing a realistic appraisal of the effectiveness and limits of psychiatry, constructive learning from direct interpersonal interactions with clients, practising communication skills, being supported in a structured way, working with positive role models, and the overall quality of the employment setting. A comprehensive understanding of these factors can enhance the experience of undergraduate nursing students working as AIN, and potentially increase recruitment into MHN.     

Views and experiences of mental health nurses working with undergraduate assistants in nursing in an acute mental health setting

Undergraduate nurses are employed as assistants in nursing (AIN) in inpatient mental health settings; however, there is a paucity of published research exploring registered nurses' (RN) views about the AIN role in these settings. This qualitative study documents the views and experiences of RN working with undergraduate AIN. Fifty structured face-to-face interviews were analysed, and the results are discussed in three sections. The first section outlines RN perceptions of qualities and skills required of AIN in mental health, and the responses primarily focus on communication skills, initiative, and willingness to learn. The second section targets factors in the workplace that might enhance the interest of AIN in a mental health nursing career; the responses emphasize their need to work with experienced staff. The last section outlines RN expectations of AIN, most of which are met and involve physical observations and technical tasks; less fulfilled activities primarily cluster around interactions with patients. Findings highlight the advantages and disadvantages of drawing on undergraduate nursing students as AIN in mental health settings. Communication skills, personal initiative, safety training to prevent violence, and education to increase knowledge and awareness about mental illness, diagnosis, and mental status-related skills were all important concerns articulated by RN.     

Undergraduate nursing students’ views of mental health nursing in the forensic environment

The literature clearly demonstrates that mental health nursing tends to be viewed negatively by undergraduate nursing students. While positive clinical experiences have been found to encourage more favourable attitudes towards mental health nursing, suitable placements are becoming scarce. An evaluation of clinical placements at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health (VIFMH) was undertaken to determine whether appropriate learning opportunities were offered, and identify the impact of the placement on students’ attitudes to mental health nursing. The results suggest that VIFMH provides valuable learning experiences to increase students’ understanding of mental health nursing and is effective in producing more positive attitudes towards this area of practice.     

Assistants' in nursing perceptions of their social place within mental health‐care settings

An international nurse shortage, tightening fiscal constraints, and increased service demands have seen health systems increasingly turn to employing assistants in nursing (AIN) as a cost‐effective means to meet demand. This paper describes social positioning from the perspective of 11 AIN who were employed to work in specialist mental health settings in a metropolitan health service in Sydney. Data was collected by means of semistructured interviews. Interview questions encouraged AIN to explore their experience with reference to positioning within the service, role perception, role development, staff relationship, and role satisfaction. Thematic analysis was utilized to generate themes and explore meaning within the data. The following themes emerged: role definition and clarity; socialization and adaptation; and enhancing education. Analysis suggests that whilst AIN were integrated into mainstream service, the scope of activities or role remains geographically variable and inconsistent. Encouragingly, as AIN became familiar with their work environments and teams, they considered themselves to be of value and were able to play a meaningful role. A desire for learning and a need for continuing education also emerged as a primary theme. Findings from the data suggest that AIN in the mental health setting remain a novel and, to some extent, poorly utilized resource.     

Implementing a major stream in mental health nursing: Barriers to effectiveness

Changes to the educational preparation of the nursing workforce in mental health continue to have profound effects on the availability of sufficient numbers of skilled graduates willing to work in this field. The longevity of the problem has focused attention on possible solutions. Introducing a major stream in mental health nursing in undergraduate Bachelor of Nursing programmes was proposed and supported as a potentially beneficial strategy, adopted by some Australian universities. Despite the promise invested in this strategy, systematic evaluations to determine the effectiveness or otherwise of this approach were not initiated. A qualitative exploratory study was undertaken with Australian universities, which had implemented the major stream, regarding their experiences and observed outcomes. In‐depth interviews were conducted with a mental health nurse academic from each university. The barriers to the effectiveness of the major in mental health nursing are the specific focus of this paper. Thematic data analysis revealed three main barriers: clinical placements, lack of support from other academics, and integrated curricula. These barriers substantially limited the effectiveness of this strategy – in some instances, leading to the programme's termination – and must be assertively addressed to maximize the potential of the major in mental health nursing.     

医学院护理系男生心理健康状况分析

目的了解高校男护生心理健康状况及其影响因素。方法应用症状自评量表(SCL-90)和自制调查问卷,对护理系26名男生和33名女生进行心理健康状况调查。结果护理系学生与常模比较,强迫状态、焦虑、恐怖、精神病性因子分显著高于常模(P<0.05或<0.01)。男、女生分别与常模比较,男生强迫状态、精神病性因子分显著高于常模(P<0.05或<0.01);女生强迫状态、恐怖、精神病性因子分显著高于常模(P<0.05或<0.01)。男生与女生比较,男生恐怖因子分显著低于女生(P<0.05)。结论对医学院校学生,应加强心理辅导,促进其心理健康发展。男护生相对于女护生,对从事护理工作,有其优越性。     

Working together: a joint initiative between academics and clinicians to prepare undergraduate nursing students to work in mental health settings

There is ongoing concern among mental health professionals regarding the recruitment of newly graduated nurses to this specialist nursing area. Many reasons for the problem have been identified, including the perceived inadequate preparation by the tertiary sector, students' prejudices and anxieties about mental illness, a perceived lack of support while undertaking clinical placement, and the quality of the clinical placement itself. This paper describes a collaborative response to these issues undertaken in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The implementation of preclinical undergraduate workshops using problem-based learning and role plays were undertaken. Mental health nursing scenarios were developed in association with experienced clinicians to introduce core concepts in a supportive learning environment. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation data were collected immediately following the workshop and again after the students returned to the university following a mental health clinical placement. A further survey of one cohort was undertaken 12 months after initial state registration and the beginning of a career in mental health nursing. Results showed that both students' and clinicians' attitudes to the workshops were consistently positive and indicated that the workshops were beneficial in preparing students for their clinical placement. Importantly, since the implementation of the workshops and other collaborative initiatives, an increasing number of newly graduated nurses from the region are choosing to work in mental health.     

在校护生心理健康水平影响因素的路径分析

目的了解护生心理健康水平与心理社会因素的关系。方法采用症状自评量表、青少年生活事件量表和应对方式问卷、领悟社会支持量表、自尊量表对345名护生进行调查。结果成熟型应对方式、领悟社会支持量表得分、自尊量表得分与症状自评量表得分呈负相关,不成熟型应对方式、混合型应对方式、青少年生活事件量表得分与症状自评量表得分呈正相关。对症状自评量表得分有直接影响的变量按影响大小依次为成熟型应对方式、自尊、生活事件评分、社会支持总分,4个变量对心理症状均存在间接效应。结论成熟型应对方式、自尊、生活事件、社会支持是影响在校护生心理健康的重要因素。     

Undergraduate nursing students attitude to mental health nursing: a cluster analysis approach

Aims. The use of cluster analysis to determine if specific groups of students could be identified based on their attitudes towards mental health nursing following the completion of a clinical experience in a mental health setting. Background. Research suggests that nursing students generally have a negative image of mental health nursing. This can be improved following clinical exposure in mental health settings, however, specific aspects of clinical experience that might facilitate attitudinal change have been under‐researched. Design. Survey. Methods. A survey was administered to students (n = 703) immediately after completion of their clinical experience. Cluster analysis was used to identify natural groupings within the study cohort. Results. Three distinct clusters were identified. Cluster 1 demonstrated more positive attitudes, greater confidence and viewed mental health more positively than students in the other two Clusters. They were more likely to be male, have spent at least 30 minutes per shift with a preceptor and have completed shifts of eight hours rather than seven hours. Conclusions. Attitudes to mental health nursing may be influenced by specific demographic characteristics of students and by specific aspects of their clinical experience. Relevance to clinical practice. The nursing workforce is an essential element of quality mental health service delivery. Knowledge about factors influencing more positive attitudes is important for structuring clinical experience and designing effective recruitment strategies to attract more students into this field of practice.     

医科大学五年制护理系女生心理健康状况分析

目的 了解医科大学护理系女生的心理健康状况及其影响因素。方法 采用SCL-90，RD-16和《青少年生活事件量表》对75名护理系女生和91名医疗系女 生进行评定，结果 护理系女生中存在心理问题6人（8.5%)；SCL-90总均分及各因子分与常模比较均玩显性差异；医疗系女生的“精神病性”因子分显高于护理系女生，总均分和其余因子分无显性差异；护理系女生的阳性症状主要表现为人际关系敏感和精神病性症状，SCL-90总均分及各因子分与生活事件呈正相关。结论 护理系女生心理健康状况总体上和普通人群无显性差异，部分护理系女生的心理问题产生的原因可能与学生压力过大，人际关系处理不良和受惩罚有关，有必要加强护理系女生的心理健康教育服务。     

本科护生专业自我概念与心理健康状况的相关性研究

目的了解本科护生专业自我概念、心理健康状况,并分析二者之间的关系。方法采用护理专业自我概念量表和症状自评量表对203名大学2年级和3年级的全日制4年制本科护生进行调查。结果本科护生护理专业自我概念量表总分为(86.57±6.08)分;症状自评量表总分为(152.80±37.00)分,各因子得分均高于成人常模(P0.01);本科护生专业自我概念总分、技能、灵活性得分分别与症状自评量表总分、强迫、抑郁、焦虑得分呈负相关(P0.01);满意度得分与强迫、抑郁得分呈负相关(P0.01)。结论本科护生具有较高的专业自我概念水平,心理健康水平不容乐观,在护理教育过程中应积极促进本科护生专业自我概念的发展,提高其心理健康水平。     

The challenge of contemporary nurse education programmes. Perceived stressors of nursing students: mental health and related lifestyle issues

This study aimed to identify the lifestyle behaviours of nursing students. The research tool was a 146-item questionnaire based upon the College Lifestyle and Attitudinal National survey. Most students considered their mental health as either good or very good. Those in the final year were more likely to rate their mental health poorly. Many experienced programme-related stressors including examinations and assignments and studies in general. More than one-third also reported stressors related to relationships with clinical staff and clinical assessment of competence. There is a concern that the added demands of modern nursing programmes place the student under considerably more pressure, because of competing demands. While many students talk to their peers or family, many do not and prefer rather to go it alone, with some choosing to escape through alcohol or drugs. The support and encouragement of healthy coping mechanisms among nursing students is paramount to ensure a healthy nursing workforce for the future. Nursing students support the mental and physical health of others, and therefore in many ways ought to a role model. Nurturing and supporting their mental health is crucial to the future of profession.     

Rebuilding the foundations: Major renovations to the mental health component of an undergraduate nursing curriculum

Concerns relating to the adequacy of nurses' preparation for the care of people with mental illness prompted significant revision of the mental health component in a Bachelor of Health Science nursing programme in New Zealand that prepares approximately 200 students per year. Working collaboratively with clinical providers, university staff developed and introduced three courses (equivalent to 450 hours of learning) specifically focused on mental health science, inpatient practice, and primary community mental health practice. This paper provides an overview of the new courses and reports the findings of an appreciative inquiry evaluation of this curriculum innovation.     

The realities of mental health nursing in acute inpatient environments

ABSTRACT:  The purpose of this ethnographic study was to understand how nurses construct their practice in an acute inpatient psychiatric unit in light of the current challenges, demands and influences brought about by service reform. During a 5-month period, fieldwork observations, interviews and discussion groups occurred in a 22-bed acute inpatient mental health facility in New South Wales, Australia. The findings demonstrate how the current role of acute care has resulted in nurses working in increasingly complex environments characterized by competing priorities and new demands. Nurses struggled to fit the changed service philosophy with traditional models of practice within this fluid and changing environment. The findings are relevant within the context of current debates and can be used to enhance the understanding of contemporary acute mental health nursing practice and inform the continued development of mental health nursing in these settings.     

How mental health nursing can best improve service users' experiences and outcomes in inpatient settings: responses to a national consultation

Despite a number of national developments in the past few years, concerns remain about the experience and outcomes for service users in inpatient care settings. As part of a national review of mental health nursing in England, a consultation exercise was carried out to ascertain the opinions of a wide range of stakeholders in order to inform subsequent recommendations. The consultation question specifically related to inpatient care was ‘How can mental health nurses best improve service users’ experiences, and outcomes, in inpatient care settings?' The consultation generated a total of 326 written responses, mostly from groups and organizations. Responses were subject to content analysis and the three largest categories were ‘Service users influencing services’ (n = 80, 31%), ‘Service users involved in own care’ (n = 74, 29%) and ‘Direct clinical time’ (n = 68, 26%), including respondents citing the need for protected therapeutic engagement time. Many of the themes raised in the consultation were subsequently reflected in the recommendations made in ‘From values to action; the Chief Nursing Officer’s review of mental health nursing'.