Service User Experience of Receiving Remote Inpatient Mental Health Treatment via the Homecare Service.

The Homecare Service was developed as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing all the elements of a mental health inpatient programme remotely, in the comfort and safety of the service user's home thus reducing the need for a physical admission. The aim of this study was to explore service user experiences of a remote virtual inpatient care at an Irish independent mental health service. All participants who had a virtual admission in a 3-month period were invited to complete a series of questions via an online survey. Three open-ended questions generated qualitative data from this mixed methods study, which were thematically analysed. Three themes reflected service user experience: 'The Homecare Service: a viable alternative to inpatient care'; 'Importance of relationships' and 'Technology and Homecare.' Overall, there was general satisfaction with the service. This study provided a good opportunity to identify issues that have emerged considering the prompt implementation of the initiative. Feedback relating to improvements can be implemented in future service delivery.

Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health Nurses.

The aim of this research was to assess the psychological effects of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on mental health nurses. An internet-based questionnaire that included the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Zung Self Rating Anxiety Score (SAS) was used to assess the impact of the pandemic on the wellbeing of mental health nurses in an Irish mental health service. Among the nurses surveyed (n = 161), 12% of the participants had an overall IES-R score from 24 to 32 indicating that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was a clinical concern, while 38% had an overall IES-R score >32 indicating that PTSD was a probable diagnosis. The mean SAS score that had been converted to anxiety index scores was 40.78 (SD = 9.25). The results showed that 30% of mental health nurses experienced anxiety levels from moderate to extreme. Overall findings confirm that mental health nurses are experiencing psychological distress as a result of working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurses who were <30 years of age or who were in their current roles for less than a year or were ward-based and worked full-time, were most likely to be affected. Working during COVID-19 has not been routine work practice and for a cohort of workers who are already under pressure, the sacrifice in terms of general well-being has been immense. The offer of individualized psychological support for mental health nurses working during the pandemic should be both practical in nature and flexible enough to meet individual needs.

Development of the Student Nurse Subjective Evaluation of Completed Clinical Practice Placement Instrument.

BACKGROUND: Instruments that measure clinical learning environments have lacked rigorous methodological approaches in their development and validity. METHOD: Development research using a survey design approach was conducted for an instrument to evaluate the quality of nursing students' clinical practice placement. RESULTS: The development and validity of the Student Nurse Subjective Evaluation of Completed Clinical Practice Placement (SNEP) resulted in a 40-item instrument to evaluate nursing students' experience of their completed clinical practice placement. Adequate level of model fit was indicated (χ2[719] = 1909.47, p < .001) for the confirmatory factor analysis (χ2/df = 2.66, comparative fit index = 0.92, Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.92, and root-mean-square error of approximation = 0.07). Standardized factor loadings were high, ranging from 0.68 to 0.95. CONCLUSION: The SNEP was designed and validated incorporating the perspective of various nurse stakeholders and can be used in both research and clinical learning environments. [J Nurs Educ. 2022;61(10):559-569.].

"I found it daunting": An exploration of educational needs and experiences of mental health student nurses working with children and adolescents with eating disorders.

WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE SUBJECT?: A therapeutic relationship with a professional who displays an informed approach has a positive effect on outcomes for young people presenting with an eating disorder. There is a dearth of research available on the student mental health nurse experience of working with young people with an eating disorder both internationally and from the Republic of Ireland. Within this limited literature, nursing students were found to hold more negative perceptions towards this group than more experienced clinicians. The causes of eating disorders are complex, which make education and support to understand the individual with an eating disorder essential. Within the Republic of Ireland, child and adolescent mental health historically has received very little attention in the undergraduate mental health nursing curriculum. WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Findings from this study recommend that a set of guidelines are made available for students to feel more confident in their role. It is suggested that this resource would include the therapeutic skills to engage the young person with an eating disorder. A specialist clinical placement has been identified as the most appropriate time to consider the development of a study day or days to facilitate learning of the skills and therapeutic techniques to work with adolescents. Application of these skills would occur within the clinical learning environment under supervision and guidance of the clinical preceptor. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Specialized training for student mental health nurses working with this group will enhance confidence and competence levels in forming therapeutic relationships, thereby improving outcomes for those attending the services. Better student experience may also enhance future nursing recruitment into this area. Students need additional support in managing these often complex and ambivalent presentations and their own fears or stigma around people with an eating disorder. This is recommended as taking the form of reflective practice during the placement. There is a need for nursing management to support nurses in their role as preceptor. This would involve protected time for preceptors to engage the student nurse in clinical education and reflective practice. ABSTRACT: Introduction There is limited attention given to child and adolescent mental health in the undergraduate mental health nursing curriculum within the Republic of Ireland. There is a dearth of research available on specifically the student mental health nurse experience both internationally and from the Republic of Ireland. Aim To explore factors that impact on the experience of mental health student nurses working with adolescents who present with eating disorders. Method This qualitative descriptive study was conducted through individual semi-structured interviews with n = 4 mental health student nurses. Data were then subjected to a schematic content analysis. Results The participants experienced developing therapeutic relationships with this group as a challenging process. They believed that the theoretical component of the undergraduate programme facilitated them in their understanding but did not prepare them to engage therapeutically with these adolescents. Discussion Preceptors are identified as the main source of support but improvements to the clinical learning environment would enhance the learning experience. Implications for practice Support for the role of the preceptor in the specialist clinical setting in the form of training and protected time to engage students in clinical education and reflection was suggested as a method to enhance the clinical learning environment.