Mental health content of Australian pre-registration nursing curricula: Summary report and critical commentary (original) (raw)
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International journal of mental health nursing, 2011
The Australian Mental Health Nurse Education Taskforce conducted a national examination of mental health content of preregistration nursing curricula in order to develop a framework for including mental health in future curricula. This paper presents the qualitative findings from national consultations about the framework. Content analysis of data was undertaken, and the findings show four key themes. First, the mental health content of curricula should be increased; second, overall mental health nursing leadership should be strengthened; third, mental health consumer participation should be increased in all aspects of curricula; and finally, a repository should be established for mental health teaching resources.
Australian nursing curricula and mental health recruitment
International journal of nursing practice, 2009
Debate about nursing curricula has been on the forefront of industry and academia in Australia particularly since the shift from the 'apprenticeship style' of training for nurses to a university-based, comprehensive, bachelor's degree. There is the suggestion that university-based courses are rather inflexible and take for granted that the provision of mental health nursing across what is an essentially general course will ultimately attract the numbers of quality staff members required to fill speciality positions in mental health. Recent literature advocates for a direct entry undergraduate mental health programme in Australia, similar to that in the UK. This is suggested as one of many strategies to address the growing disparity between the demand and the supply for effective mental health treatment and care. The support of preceptor staff in the clinical field in terms of workloads, supervision and professional development are also identified as areas for attention. ...
There is an ongoing global shortage of mental health nurses. Within Australia, the principal strategy of offering a postgraduate education programme with various incentives to encourage nurses back to study has not been successful. This has led to the consideration of radical alternatives, including the return to pre-registration specialisation in mental health. The successful introduction of this strategy would require the full support of industry partners. To date, the voice of industry has not been heard in relation to this issue. The aim of this paper is to present the views of an Australian sample of mental health nursing directors regarding the resources and other factors required, should undergraduate specialist programmes in mental health be developed, to ensure they are relevant and likely to be successful. A qualitative exploratory research project was undertaken to explore the perspectives and opinions of industry partners. In-depth interviews were conducted with nursing directors (n = 12) in Queensland Australia. Five main themes were identified: relationships with universities; clinical placement preparation and support; workplace culture; facilitators and preceptors; and practical student learning. Genuine collaboration between the two organisations was considered crucial for delivering a quality programme and providing the required support for students. Transformative leadership could inform this collaboration by promoting acknowledgement of and respect for differences.
Implementation of a major in mental health nursing in Australian universities
International Journal of …, 2011
The difficulty recruiting and retaining an adequate mental health nursing workforce is acknowledged. The major in mental health nursing has been identified as a strategy to promote this specialist area of practice as desirable for students' future careers. Measuring its success requires the collection of detailed data about the structure, content, and uptake of these programmes. A survey was specifically developed to elicit descriptive information about the structure and content of a major in mental health nursing programmes. Fourteen universities participated in this research. Eight had implemented a major, one intends to do so in 2011, and five had abandoned or suspended their plans for the major. The findings suggest considerable variation in both structure and content of the major in mental health nursing throughout Australia. Students are required to commit to and commence the programme at differing stages, and there is a substantial variation in the theoretical and clinical content in mental health undertaken as a requirement for the major. The numbers of students taking the major is relatively small in most universities; however, the retention rates are favourable. These findings provide important data for discussion about the ideal structure and content of a major in mental health nursing.
BMC Nursing, 2015
Background: There has been much debate by both academics and clinical agencies about the motivations and abilities of nurse graduates to work in mental health nursing. The aim of this study was to recruit student nurses from a dedicated mental health nursing program in the United Kingdom (UK) and a comprehensive nursing program in Australia and illuminate their motivations towards considering mental health nursing as a career choice. Methods: This study comprised of two UK and four Australian Schools of Nursing within Universities. A 12 item survey was developed for the purpose of this study and was checked for face validity by experienced mental health nurses. Convenience sampling was used and 395 responses were received. Results: The comprehensive program represented by the Australian sample, revealed a third of respondents indicated that mental health nursing was definitely not a career option, while only 8 % of the UK specialised program reported mental health nursing was not seven for them. In both groups a higher level of motivation to work in mental health emanated from personal experience and/or work experience/exposure to mental health care. Conclusions: A greater focus on clinical exposure in comprehensive programs could enhance professional experience needed to increase student motivations for mental health nursing.