Quality and substance of educational strategies for mental health in undergraduate nursing curricula

Abstract

In Australia, there is a workforce shortage of nurses in the mental health sector, and it is essential that universities play a part in the recruitment of nurses to work in this area. In this article, we present a literature review of educational strategies for mental health in undergraduate nursing curricula and how these align with the recommendations of the Mental Health Nurse Education Task Force. We reviewed quantitative and qualitative research from 2005 to 2012. Twelve studies from Australia and elsewhere of different types of educational courses and strategies were included for this review. The key topics identified were in relation to a general overview of programmes outlining the content and outcomes, clinical placement strategies, involvement of consumers and mental health nurses in curriculum delivery and oversight, e-learning strategies, and implementation of mental health majors. Finally, limitations with considering the literature as a whole were highlighted, and recommendations made for future changes and research.

Capturing the Experience: Lessons of Consumers and Carers in Rural Mental Health Education

“…The sentiments expressed underscore that the experience of providing and having guest lectures from consumers of mental health services and carers, were seen as valuable. This confirmation is regarded as indicative of the findings reported in the published literature (8)(9)(10)(11) and supports continuation of this project. However, it must sit within a supportive framework that expands and contextualises them.…”

Graduate nurses' experiences of mental health services in their first year of practice: An integrative review

“…; Moodie & Loucks ; Khankeh et al . ; Nadler‐ Neville & Goetz ). These negative experiences have included horizontal violence (Cleary et al .…”

“…Thus, addressing critical and perpetual nursing workforce shortages remains a priority for mental health services in this country, as it is with other developed countries. There has been a substantial body of research exploring the educational preparation of nurses, particularly within the context of deinstitutionalization, and the change to comprehensive tertiary models of educational preparation as a means for explaining the deskilling and shortage of mental health nurses in practice (Happell & Cutcliffe ; Neville & Goetz ). Nevertheless, despite the protracted publication of research findings surrounding the educational preparation of nurses for mental health practice, and often critical discussion, very little has changed in the educational preparation, recruitment, and retention of new graduates in the past decade.…”

Cuidado de saúde mental à pessoa idosa: percepção do enfermeiro

“…15 It is understood that it would be advantageous for Nursing students to have a previous contact with the mental health contents still in the academic program, since this could influence the perception of the students on the mental health in all the areas of Nursing. 16 It is thought that it is not uncommon for the appearance of "stones on the way" to the implementation of actions directed towards care based on psychosocial attention. Corroborating with this finding, there are several barriers that primary care teams face to put into practice the care related to mental health, such as the lack of qualification of the family health teams focused on psychosocial care, the lack of spaces for discussion , the lack of networking between primary care teams, and insufficient mental health services and professionals.…”