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Promoting mental health nursing: employing undergraduate nursing students as assistants in mental health

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 18:27 authored by Cleary, M, Horsfall, J, Happell, B
The difficulty in attracting graduates of nursing programmes into mental health nursing (MHN) remains an ongoing challenge. Moreover, it is frequently claimed that undergraduate nursing students do not always regard MHN favourably for future employment. Although undergraduate nurses are employed as assistants in nursing (AIN) in mental health settings, there is no published research exploring their role, the career trajectory into MHN, or its effectiveness as a recruitment strategy. In this paper, we draw on the literature to delineate factors that might contribute to the desire of AIN to work in MHN. Nine factors were identified: acceptance by nurses, fitting in with the culture, managing the workload, developing a realistic appraisal of the effectiveness and limits of psychiatry, constructive learning from direct interpersonal interactions with clients, practising communication skills, being supported in a structured way, working with positive role models, and the overall quality of the employment setting. A comprehensive understanding of these factors can enhance the experience of undergraduate nursing students working as AIN, and potentially increase recruitment into MHN.

History

Publication title

International journal of mental health nursing

Volume

21

Pagination

69-74

ISSN

1445-8330

Department/School

School of Health Sciences

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell : Blackwell Pub.

Place of publication

Australia

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Mental health

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