The study offers some evidence that CPNs can be taught to improve the outcome for families who care for a relative with schizophrenia.

This study aimed to assess whether clinical supervision provided by workplace-based supervisors can enhance outcomes for mental health nurses attending a psychosocial intervention education programme and the service users whom they work with. A quasi-experimental controlled design was used. The main outcome measure was student knowledge and attitudes towards individuals with psychosis and their caregivers. Secondary outcome measures for service users included the KGV (M) symptom scale and the Social Functioning Scale. Students in the experimental group demonstrated a significant increase in knowledge of psychological interventions compared with the control group. Service users seen by the students in the experimental group showed significantly greater reductions in positive psychotic symptoms and total symptoms compared with those seen by students in the control group. Workplace clinical supervision may offer additional benefit to nurses attending psychosocial intervention courses. Further research adopting more robust designs is required to support these tentative findings.

No abstract

In 2003 the two UK Government departments of Health and Education and Skills commissioned a team of investigators to examine a growing crisis in the educator and researcher workforce in the health, social care and education communities. The team were asked to look at all professions and take forward an extensive consultation process. This article describes the approach taken by the project team, articulates issues facing educators and researchers in nursing and suggests some models for career development. A series of recommendations are listed and shown to cover three main areas: (1) strategic drivers; (2) employment practices; and (3) matters relating to labour market intelligence. It can be shown that many of the problems facing nurse educators and researchers are shared with other staff groups in health and social care and that some ‘quick win’ solutions are possible. Although some effective costneutral work can be undertaken now, investment by Government is needed to make more substantial changes. Some of this investment may be found from existing funding streams but additional funding is likely to be necessary.