Analysis of changes in the national mental health nursing workforce in England, 2011-2021.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Nurses work in mental health services around the world, constituting the largest professional group. Nurses have been identified as being potentially able to carry out a much wider range of functions than are typically allowed in practice, when provided with suitable training. There are long-term concerns regarding shortages of mental health nurses in England and many other countries. Workforce data is rarely subject to analysis in peer-reviewed journals. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: This paper provides a case study of the workforce patterns of a national mental health nurse (MHN) workforce overtime allowing comparison with other countries and specialities. MHN numbers reduced from 2011 to 2017, then increased to near the 2011 level by 2021, not meeting ambitious national plans for increasing numbers. The mental health nursing proportion of the total NHS nursing workforce decreased through this period. Advanced practice roles and skills are widely, but unevenly, distributed and are provided by a small proportion of nurses. The proportion of nurses working in community settings has increased to constitute more than half of all nurses for the first time. The ratio of support workers to nurses increased in inpatient settings and will continue to change. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Historical challenges in recruiting MHNs suggest that future plans to expand the profession are overly optimistic. To support the development of advanced practice roles and new skill sets, clearer research evidence of impact is required and clearer national guidance regarding best practice models. Good workforce data are essential to inform good workforce planning. ABSTRACT: Introduction Data regarding changes in characteristics of the MHN workforce is commonly cited in governmental publications, but is rarely analysed in peer-reviewed journals, despite ongoing concerns regarding high vacancy rates within mental health services. Aim The aim of the study was to characterize changes in the MHN workforce, implementation of new nursing roles/skills and alignment with national policy. Method Analysis of nationally published workforce data, peer-reviewed publications and governmental policy/planning documents. Results Nurse numbers declined from 2011 to 2017, subsequently returning to near 2011 levels, but remaining below national targets. Nurses in community settings increased to constitute more than half of all nurses, whilst inpatient numbers declined, although more slowly than bed numbers. The ratio between nurses and support workers changed due to more support workers in inpatient settings. New advanced skills and roles for nurses have increased, but are unevenly distributed, constituting a small proportion of the total workforce. Implications for Practice This paper provides a case study against which comparisons may be made with the nursing workforce in other countries and specialities. Even clear policy commitment to nursing growth may not deliver planned changes in numbers and introducing new roles may have uneven impact, especially in the absence of a robust evidence base.

Helpful encounters with mental health nurses in Australia: A survey of service users and their supporters.

WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE SUBJECT?: Most nurses who work in mental health in Australia have completed a comprehensive nursing programme at a university. This training has been widely criticized and has not produced "job-ready" graduates. Public inquiries into mental health services have highlighted the need for transformation of mental health services and concern about future nursing shortages. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: This survey highlights what service users and supporters perceive are useful nursing skills and capabilities. The characteristics of helpful encounters with nurses are also described. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Helpful nursing practice is aligned with traditional nursing values and theory, rather than the performance of specific tasks. Improving the retention of nurses to this specialty area of practice requires educational processes to enable nurses to enact values, develop their therapeutic potential and undertake facilitative and supportive practices which are helpful to service users. ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Successive inquiries into mental health services in Australia have identified the need for major reform of services and proposed a return to direct-entry nursing training. AIM/QUESTION: To identify what service users, family and supporters have found helpful in their encounters with nurses in mental health settings. METHOD: A survey of 95 service users and supporters rated the importance of the capabilities and competencies of nurses. They also shared examples of helpful encounters with nurses which were subject to thematic analysis. RESULTS: The most highly rated competencies were around demonstrating caring, empathy and understanding, and responding effectively in crisis situations. Helpful encounters involved enacted values, highly skilful interpersonal and psychotherapeutic engagement and practices that were facilitative and supportive. DISCUSSION: The process and content of pre-registration nursing training needs to refocus on the nurse meeting the needs of service users and supporters, rather than the instrumental needs of services today. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Educational reform may be necessary but insufficient to address anticipated nursing workforce shortages. Policymakers and health service directors need to align services with mental health nursing values and promote practices aligned with what service users and their supporters report as helpful.

A qualitative study of perceptions of senior health service staff as to factors influencing the development of Advanced Clinical Practice roles in mental health services.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) are, typically, non-medical healthcare professionals, who possess advanced clinical skills, a master's level qualification and evidence of leadership, management and research abilities. Most ACPs are nurses and new ACP roles are increasingly being established around the world. The views of senior staff towards new mental health nursing roles in organizations are likely to influence their introduction and sustainability Research on mental health nursing ACP roles is sparse. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: The paper uniquely provides specific information as to factors perceived by senior staff as affecting the implementation of ACP roles in mental health services. A wide range of mental health services were perceived as potentially benefiting from ACPs. Establishing role clarity for MHN ACPs is perceived as being as essential to successful introduction of the role, as has been found for other specialities. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Participants identified a need for early engagement with service users and professions about new ACP roles and for processes that can evaluate ACP roles once they established. Some mental health nurses may require long-term developmental pathways to help prepare them to take on a master's level course and then the ACP role. ABSTRACT: Introduction Advanced clinical practice (ACP) roles are increasingly being developed internationally. Identifying factors perceived as affecting the development of ACP can support effective implementation. Aim To understand the views of senior health service staff as to factors influencing the development of ACP roles in mental health services. Method Focus group and semi-structured interviews. Participants were directors of nursing (n = 10) and other senior staff from roles important to workforce development (n = 10). Results Content analysis suggested seven categories: understanding the role and national guidelines, attitudes to the role, learning from implementing other roles, understanding prerequisites for development, challenges, opportunities and future support/actions. Prerequisites for success would include early engagement with stakeholders. Medical attitudes towards ACP roles were perceived as generally more positive than previously. Discussion The study provides unique information regarding perspectives of senior staff regarding the implementation of ACP roles in mental health services. A wide range of mental health services were perceived as potentially benefiting from ACPs, with the importance of role clarity being highlighted and long-term developmental pathways for staff. Implications for practice Successful Implementation of ACP roles may require clear role definition, early engagement with stakeholders and processes to evaluate role outcomes.

Factors associated with the use of mechanical restraint in a mental health hospitalization unit: 8-year retrospective analysis.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THE TOPIC?: Our present understanding of mechanical restraint is heterogenous, largely due to the important differences between countries/regions. In Spain, the use of this restrictive practice is not regulated, nor is its use protocolized. Previous studies that have investigated the impact of organizational factors and changes in these protocols are often short and not conducted within a framework designed to establish a long-term plan for reducing the use of mechanical restraint. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: We demonstrate that the implementation of administrative and protocol changes in our psychiatric unit significantly reduced the use of mechanical restraint, thus laying the foundations for a regulatory framework. Our analysis shows that the profile of patients who require mechanical restraint is highly variable, but that certain clinical and institutional aspects within the framework of a long-term plan for the reduction in mechanical restraint can be targeted with long-lasting positive effects. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Organizational changes focussed on training staff, promoting family support and requiring the registration and close monitoring of episodes empower the role of the nursing staff in the prevention, monitoring and regulation of mechanical restraint. ABSTRACT: Introduction Mechanical restraint is a controversial restrictive practice to manage agitation or violent behaviour. Numerous studies have evaluated the factors and organizational changes that influence on mechanical restraint, but only for short time periods. None of those studies have assessed the effects of measures applied within the framework of a long-term plan to reduce the use of mechanical restraint. Given the lack of specific legislation in Spain, more data are required for its proper regulation. Aim/Question To evaluate the risk factors associated and the impact of specific measures designed to minimize the application of mechanical restraint in an acute mental health unit over an 8-year period and previous observation of 5 years. Methods Cross-sectional study based on a retrospective analysis of mechanical restraint records. We compared admissions requiring ≥one episode of restraint versus admissions not requiring this coercive measure. Results Between 2007 and 2014, 412 admissions (12%) required mechanical restraint. The data show that the measures applied in the previous five years had significantly reduced the total hours of restraint per semester. The factors associated with admissions requiring mechanical restraint were involuntary, unscheduled and longer admissions. The best predictor of restraint was involuntary admission (OR = 6.37), followed by the diagnosis of personality disorder (OR = 5.01). Discussion Identification of the factors associated with mechanical restraint would allow for early detection strategies. Our results provide additional evidence on the usefulness of organizational changes to reduce coercive measures, even in a country without specific legislation. Implications for Practice Organizational changes, such as staff training and increased family support during admission of episodes of mechanical restraint, can reduce the use of this measure. These measures also give the nursing staff greater responsibility in terms of their role in registering and monitoring the restrictive practice, thus helping to prevent or minimize the use of mechanical restraint.

Concepts, models and measurement of continuity of care in mental health services: A systematic appraisal of the literature.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Care continuity is considered to be a cornerstone of modern mental health care. As community mental health services have become increasingly fragmented and complex, the crucial criterion for best quality care has become the degree to which treatment delivered by separate services and professionals is continuous and well coordinated. However, clarification of the key elements of continuity has proved challenging and a consensus has not been reached. Recent research has shown significant levels of variation in the quality of care coordination across England and Wales, with potentially detrimental consequences for individuals. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Studies on care continuity identified in this review are grouped into three categories: studies defining concepts of care continuity, studies providing models of continuity and studies describing development of questionnaires about care continuity. There are many similarities and parallels between concepts of continuity described in the studies under review. Therefore, there is potential for developing a consensus on the nature of care continuity as a multidimensional concept. The priority placed upon the patient's experience of care continuity is identified as a major focus in these studies. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: A consensus on the nature of care continuity would benefit both theory and practice in mental health nursing. It would provide a firmer foundation for new research seeking to improve continuity for people using services, and enable mental health nurses working as care coordinators to have a better understanding of the elements of their role that are most effective. ABSTRACT: Introduction The increased complexity of community mental health services, and associated fragmentation of traditional dividing lines between services, has underscored the centrality of care continuity and coordination in modern mental health care. However, clarification of the key features of the care continuity concept has proved difficult and a consensus has not been reached. Aim/Question This review draws together and critically examines latest evidence concerning concepts, models and scales based on a multidimensional understanding of care continuity. Method Databases ASSIA, PubMed, MEDLINE and Cochrane were searched for papers dating from January 2005 to July 2016, of which 21 articles met the inclusion criteria. These were subjected to quality appraisal based on CASP and COSMIN checklists. Studies were grouped into three thematic categories describing concepts, models and scales of care continuity. Results/Discussion Synthesis indicated correspondence between independent, multidimensional models of care continuity, providing greater clarity regarding the essential features of the concept. Association, although not causation, between care continuity factors and health outcomes is supported by current evidence. Implications for practice Clarification of care continuity in mental health services may enable nurses working as care coordinators to develop a better understanding of key elements of their role, and provide guidance for future service development.