Factors related to undergraduate nursing education are among the issues inhibiting interest in mental health nursing as a field of practice. To gain more understanding about views about mental health nursing, a survey was conducted with undergraduate nursing students at a major university in Australia after implementation of a mental health nursing course. The data provide information about student beliefs, concerns, and how mental health nursing might be promoted.
BackgroundThe University of New England (UNE), Australia decided to develop innovative placement opportunities for its increasing numbers of nursing students. Extensive community and stakeholder consultation determined that a community centre in rural New South Wales was the welcomed site of the student-led clinic because it fit the goals of the project—to increase access to health care services in an underserved area while providing service learning for students.MethodsSupported by a grant from Health Workforce Australia and in partnership with several community organisations, UNE established a student-led clinic in a disadvantaged community using an engaged scholarship approach which joins academic service learning with community based action research. The clinic was managed and run by the students, who were supervised by university staff and worked in collaboration with residents and local health and community services.ResultsLocal families, many of whom were Indigenous Australians, received increased access to culturally appropriate health services. In the first year, the clinic increased from a one day per week to a three day per week service and offered over 1000 occasions of care and involved 1500 additional community members in health promotion activities. This has led to improved health outcomes for the community and cost savings to the health service estimated to be $430,000. The students learned from members of the community and community members learned from the students, in a collaborative process. Community members benefited from access to drop in help that was self-determined.ConclusionsThe model of developing student-led community health and wellbeing clinics in underserved communities not only fulfils the local, State Government, Federal Government and international health reform agenda but it also represents good value for money. It offers free health services in a disadvantaged community, thereby improving overall health and wellbeing. The student-led clinic is an invaluable and sustainable link between students, health care professionals, community based organisations, the university, and the community. The community benefits from the clinic by learning to self-manage health and wellbeing issues. The benefits for students are that they gain practical experience in an interdisciplinary setting and through exposure to a community with unique and severe needs.
Desperate times call for creative solutions. The mental health workforce shortage has created an opportunity to rethink current and future education and training needs in order to prepare competent and compassionate practitioners to meet the changing demands of consumers and their carers requiring mental heath treatment and support. This article urges consideration of an undergraduate direct entry mental health programme similar to that of midwifery or the nursing foundation/mental health branch programmes of the UK.
The use of qualitative research designs has been gaining rapid momentum and support across a variety of disciplines. Although methods of data collection and analysis vary within and between perspectives of each discipline, in one way or another, most rely on obtaining some kind of a narrative, as a means for gaining insight into phenomena. This article outlines a strategy that the authors have been developing and have found useful in narrative inquiry. Although as health care professionals they are primarily concerned with uncovering the realm of meanings that individuals create and draw on in health/illness transformations, they believe that the data generated from linking image formation to narrative expression can provide fruitful information. The aim here is to present the background, use, development, and basic steps of what the authors call "narrative picturing," as well as invite critique and stimulate further development.
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