Mental health student nurses’ perception of the role of the mental health nurse

Abstract

Clear role definition is essential for directing the focus of nurse education and several studies have attempted to define the role of the mental health nurse (MHN). These, however, came to the conclusion that mental health nursing was difficult to articulate. The aim of this study was to understand how, during their transition to first level registration, mental health student nurses (MHSNs) perceived the role of the MHN. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 MHSNs during the last 6 months of their transition to MHN. Transcripts were analysed using a qualitative approach based on grounded theory. Six key themes were identified, five of which were defined mental health nursing roles. The sixth theme related to non-therapeutic intervention on the part of some MHNs. Several areas of concern were identified. First, MHSNs expected to conduct more psychologically based interventions than were achievable in practice. Second, emphasis on drug administration can lead to a conflict of interest in the nurses' advocacy role with patients. Third, MHSNs sometimes observed poor role models in their placements, which could have a negative impact on the way in which future MHNs view the role of the MHN.

Stress and stressors in the clinical environment: a comparative study of fourth‐year student nurses and newly qualified general nurses in Ireland

“…The previous study was conducted in 2004 (Rungapadiachy et al, 2004), when the same cohort was at student nurse level. Using a grounded theory approach, this study explored the participant's perception of their current role of newly qualified mental health nurses in Leeds.…”

Mental health nurses’ medicines management role: A qualitative content analysis

“…This time commitment is not as great as the 40 per cent figure suggested by some commentators (Armitage and Knapman, 2003), and concorded more with the 22 per cent nurses actual contact with service users found by Whittington and McLaughlin (2000). This finding shows that MM is a prominent intervention for MHNs in this context (Rungapadiachy et al, 2004;Hemingway et al, 2011). For participants working in other settings in the present study, the time commitment varied and was dependent on other influences, such whether they had a specific role in titrating and monitoring medication for example the memory service and service user need.…”

“…The MHN MM role for example has been recognized in inpatient services to be a major intervention (Frauenfield et al, 2013) but is perceived as an overused intervention that conflicts with any advocacy on behalf of the service user (Rungapadiachy et al, 2004).…”

Talking about mental health nursing: a qualitative analysis of nurses’ and service users’ accounts

“…It has been highlighted both inside and outside the profession that mental health nurses have had difficulty articulating their roles and subsequent identities (Happell, Hoey & Gaskin, 2012;Rungapadiachy, Madill & Gough, 2004;Sheppard, 1991) Reproaches from other professions, disciplines, regulators and the general public serve to make a case for identity research being an important topic for mental health nursing research inquiry.…”

“…The roles and professional identities of mental health nurses are reported to be not sufficiently understood or valued, and those in the role can experience a certain amount of role ambiguity (Chang & Hancock, 2003;Hercelinskyj, 2010;Rungapadiachy et al, 2004). Misunderstandings may be due to the low visibility nature of skills that mental health nurses employ, such as communicating and engaging with mental health service users.…”