Why do nurses seek employment in forensic mental health and what are their first impressions of the clinical environment? A mixed methods study.

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate why registered nurses seek forensic mental health employment and explore their initial impressions of this setting. DESIGN: Explanatory sequential mixed methods. METHODS: Registered nurses employed in a forensic mental health hospital completed an online survey about their reasons for seeking work in forensic mental health and their transition into the setting. To fully explore findings, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sub-group of survey respondents. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse survey data, and thematic analysis was used to analyse the interviews. RESULTS: Sixty-nine respondents completed the survey, and 11 interviews were conducted. Prior interest in forensic mental health and encouragement from hospital staff were considered important influences in seeking forensic mental health employment. New knowledge, changes in clinical responsibility, exposure to patients' background offences and security processes overwhelmed some participants initially. However, participants reported that the initial challenges of their transition revealed opportunities to develop genuine connections with patients. CONCLUSION: This study provides a new understanding of the reasons why nurses seek employment in forensic mental health and the challenges and opportunities experienced when first working in this setting. Such professional and personal elements need to be considered by organizations to strengthen recruitment strategies and support future nurses' transition into forensic mental health settings. IMPACT: This study provides new knowledge about recruiting and supporting nurses' transition into forensic mental health employment. As such, it informs policymakers, clinical services and managers about strategies needed to attract and retain this workforce. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No public or patient involvement.

Transitioning into new clinical areas of practice: An integrative review of the literature.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To critically synthesise research related to the transition of registered nurses into new areas of clinical practice. BACKGROUND: Global workforce shortages and rising healthcare demands have encouraged registered nurses to move into new clinical settings. While a body of literature reports on the transition of newly qualified nurses, evidence surrounding the transition of more experienced registered nurses to new clinical areas remains poorly explored. DESIGN: An integrative review was conducted, guided by Whittemore and Knafl (Journal of Advanced Nursing, 52, 2005, 546) framework. METHODS: An electronic database search was conducted for papers published between 1996-2016. Papers were then subjected to a methodological quality appraisal, with findings synthesised using thematic analysis into core themes. RESULTS: Ten articles met the inclusion criteria. Three themes emerged, namely Support, Professional Development and Emotional Impact. These themes suggest that transitioning nurses experience challenges in adapting to new clinical areas and developing necessary skills. Such challenges prompted various emotional and physical responses. While formal and informal support systems were regarded as valuable by transitioning nurses, they were inconsistent across the new clinical areas. CONCLUSIONS: There is some evidence to highlight the initial shock and emotional stress experienced by registered nurses during transition to a new clinical area. However, the influence of formal and informal support systems for such registered nurses is far from conclusive. Further research is needed, to examine registered nurse transition into a variety of clinical areas to inform workforce support, policy and practices. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The demand of health care is growing while global shortages of nursing workforce remain. To ensure retention and enhance the transition experience of registered nurses, it is important for nurse leaders, managers and policymakers to understand the transition experience and factors that impact this experience.

Forensic Mental Health Nurses' Experiences of Clinical Supervision.

BACKGROUND: Clinical supervision may support forensic mental health nurses with personal and professional growth in a work environment characterized by therapeutic, ethical, and practical challenges. AIM: The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of forensic mental health nurses participating in a clinical supervision program. METHODS: Seven forensic mental health nurses and two allied health professionals, working in a high-security forensic mental health hospital, were interviewed regarding their experiences of participating in a clinical supervision program. FINDINGS: Participants expressed a need for clinical supervision and were motivated to participate in the program. Benefits of clinical supervision experienced by participants included improved communication with their colleagues, being supported in their career development, and developing habits and techniques to reflect on practice issues. Participants described being able to connect with their supervisor, enabled by both trust and confidence in the supervisor's expertise. CONCLUSION: Staff showed engagement in the clinical supervision process and expressed experiencing positive outcomes related to personal and professional growth and development. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL FORENSIC NURSING PRACTICE: To support nurses with the forensic mental health context-specific challenges they face, organizations should enable and promote access to clinical supervision. Considerations for forensic mental health organizations to increase uptake and effectiveness of clinical supervision include use of externally based clinical supervisors with adequate skills and experience with providing clinical supervision to clinical staff who work in a secure environment.

The experience of nurses moving into forensic mental health employment: A qualitative study.

While forensic mental health has seen considerable growth over the last two decades, little is known about the experience of registered nurses working in these environments. This study used a qualitative descriptive approach and interviewed 11 registered nurses to explore the interpersonal experiences of transition into a forensic mental health hospital. The data revealed three themes. 'Observing what's safe' examined nurses' ability to maintain safety in the context of inconsistent practices among colleagues. 'Navigating cliques and divisions' focused on nurses' sense of belonging and adapting to professional and personal groups. Finally, 'gaining management support' reflected nurses' experiences of engagement with management. This study provides new insight into nurses' experience of adapting to employment in forensic mental health settings and highlights the importance of positive support strategies for workplace transition.

The experience of healthcare professionals implementing recovery-oriented practice in mental health inpatient units: A qualitative evidence synthesis.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: The principles of personal recovery are primarily applied in outpatient and community settings as these settings provide continuity of care and recovery-based community programs supporting consumers' recovery journey. A range of healthcare professionals are involved in the care of people within mental health in-patient units, including nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers. The integration of recovery-oriented care in mental health inpatient units may be impaired by a lack of confidence among mental health professionals. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Developing hope and a safe place is an integral part of recovery-oriented practice within mental health inpatient units. Instilling connectedness is a relevant recovery principle; however, there may be greater barriers in mental health settings which traditionally prioritise safety and risk mitigation practices to prevent perceived harmful behaviours. Staff workload and inadequate understanding of recovery concepts present challenges to promoting recovery-oriented care in everyday practice. Using strength-based practice is critical in promoting a safe space for consumers by providing psychosocial interventions and person-centred care. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: The provision of recovery-oriented practice requires adopting a collaborative approach that places a strong emphasis on the involvement of consumers and their families. Empowering mental health professionals to believe that recovery-oriented practice is possible in mental health inpatient units is crucial. Mental health professionals need to create a safe environment and positive relationships through respect and empathy for consumers and their family members. ABSTRACT: Introduction Recovery-oriented practice underpins an individual's personal recovery. Mental health nurses are required to adopt a recovery-oriented approach. Globally, a paucity of literature exists on mental health professionals' experience of recovery-oriented practice in mental health inpatient units. Aim The aim of this synthesis was to explore the experiences of healthcare professionals regarding recovery-oriented care in mental health inpatient units by appraising and synthesising existing qualitative research. Method Three databases, including MEDLINE, PsycINFO and CINAHL were searched between 2000 and 2021. Data were extracted and synthesised using thematic integrative analysis. The quality of included studies was assessed with the CASP Critical Appraisal Checklist. Results Ten qualitative research projects met the inclusion criteria. Four themes were identified (i) developing a safe and hopeful space, (ii) promoting a healing space, (iii) instilling connectedness and (iv) challenges to realising recovery-oriented care. Discussion Mental healthcare professionals perceived the principles of recovery-oriented care to be positive and include: therapeutic space, holistic care and person-centred care. Nevertheless, findings revealed limited knowledge and uncertainty of the recovery concept to be key barriers that may hinder implementation into practice. Implications for Practice Recovery-oriented practice must underpin consumer and family engagement, treatment choices and continuity of care to facilitate consumer's personal recovery.

Qualitatively exploring the attributes of adaptability and resilience amongst recently graduated nurses.

AIM: To explore newly graduated nurse's understandings and practices of adaptability and resilience in clinical environments. BACKGROUND: The everyday practice of nursing work involves managing emotional and practical everyday demands related to the role. Adaptability and resilience are two critical attributes that equip nurses for this by enabling them to manage challenges and be flexible with their practices and expectations in the face of rapidly changing and unpredictable circumstances. DESIGN: Informed by the theoretical underpinnings of the Person-centred Practice Framework, semi-structured interviews using topic guides were conducted with nine newly graduated registered nurse participants recruited through purposive sampling. Interviews occurred between March-October 2020 with participants working across seven different healthcare settings in three Local Health Districts in NSW, Australia. RESULTS: Analysis of the data generated the core themes of: 1) 'Making sense' explored how nurses defined resilience and adaptability; 2) 'Surviving as the nurse' focused on how nurses experienced adaptability and resilience as a newly qualified nurse; 3) 'Trusting oneself' reflected the interconnection of nurses' developed adaptability and resilience to their clinical self-assurance; and 4) 'Doing it again' described how adaptability and resilience can be further supported by the university sector. Findings demonstrated that adaptability and resilience in combination are essential attributes and required for effective nursing practice post-graduation. However, both collegial and organizational support were found to be lacking in positively reinforcing these attributes in this study. CONCLUSION: Newly graduated nurses can develop adaptability in clinical practice, so they are a more resilient future workforce. However, greater organizational leadership is required to model and strengthen these attributes for nurses. When perceptions, knowledge and experiences of adaptability and resilience are developed using person-centred approaches, they will be used in person-centred ways. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Newly graduated nurses can develop adaptability in clinical practice, so they are a more resilient future workforce. However, greater organizational leadership is required to model and strengthen these attributes for nurses. When perceptions, knowledge and experiences of adaptability and resilience are developed using person-centred approaches, they will be used in person-centred ways.

Trauma-informed care for people presenting to the emergency department with mental health issues.

There is a high prevalence of exposure to traumatic events in childhood among people who have mental health issues. Presentation to the emergency department (ED) can be challenging for these patients because the environment and their experience of care can trigger traumatic memories. Trauma-informed care is an approach to practice that is guided by knowledge of how trauma affects people's lives and their healthcare needs. Despite the increasing prevalence of mental health care delivery in EDs, the level of translation of trauma-informed care into nursing practice in this setting is largely unknown. Therefore, the authors undertook a narrative literature review, the aim of which was to gather evidence relevant to trauma-informed care in the ED and provide guidance on this practice for emergency nurses. Several databases were searched, and the relevant articles found were thematically analysed. Three emergent themes were identified from the literature: an access point for mental health care; staff attitudes; and the ED experience. Emergency nurses need to be aware of the effects of childhood trauma on people presenting with mental health issues and plan their approach to care to avoid potentially re-traumatising patients.

Incidence of Vicarious Trauma in Correctional Health and Forensic Mental Health Staff in New South Wales, Australia.

BACKGROUND: Correctional health and forensic mental health (FMH) staff may experience vicarious trauma (VT) as a result of cumulative and repeated exposure to traumatic material in their professional roles. AIM: This study aimed to determine the incidence of VT in a sample of correctional health and FMH staff. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey including 135 correctional health and FMH staff participating in a VT management program was conducted. Survey respondents completed the Vicarious Trauma Scale and Impacts of Events Scale-Revised. FINDINGS: Most respondents had moderate or high VT (n = 78, 57.8%, and n = 40, 29.6%, respectively). Low psychological distress was reported, with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms being experienced either mildly or not at all by most respondents. A significant relationship between total Vicarious Trauma Scale score and total Impacts of Events Scale-Revised score (r = 0.471, p = 0.000) was found, indicating that a higher level of VT was associated with an increased risk of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. A higher level of VT was also associated with increased reports of avoidance, intrusion, and hyperarousal (r = 0.382, p = 0.000; r = 0.489, p = 0.000; and r = 0.440, p = 0.000, respectively). CONCLUSION: Correctional health and FMH staff are at risk of developing VT and associated psychological distress. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL FMH NURSING PRACTICE: Correctional health and FMH organizations have the responsibility to ensure nurses are aware of the effects of VT and to provide opportunities for nurses to participate in VT education and management programs.