Mental health content of comprehensive pre-registration nursing curricula in Australia

McCann, Terence V., Moxham, Lorna, Usher, Kim J, Crookes, Patrick A., and Farrell, Gerald (2009) Mental health content of comprehensive pre-registration nursing curricula in Australia. Journal of Research in Nursing, 14 (6). pp. 519-530.

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Abstract

In 2008 the final report of the Mental Health Nurse Education Taskforce was released. This paper presents the findings of the report’s survey into the mental health content of generic pre-registration nursing curricula in Australia. A questionnaire was sent to all nursing schools providing pre-registration curricula. Results indicate curricula contained a wide range of mental health theory and clinical hours. While the majority of universities incorporated most of the 20 key topics recommended by the Mental Health Nurse Education Taskforce in their courses, few addressed issues such as Indigenous mental health. There was considerable competition for placements between universities, and concern about the quality of some placements. Nurse academics with formal qualifications in mental health and specialist clinical mental health nurses were mainly involved in teaching theory. Specialist mental health clinicians and clinical educators were the key groups engaged in students’ clinical education, and preceptorship was the most common form of clinical supervision. Consumers and carers had limited involvement in the development or provision of mental health content of pre-registration curricula. Greater attention is needed to increasing the mental health content in pre-registration curricula. Furthermore, initiatives should be developed to increase access to clinical placements and reduce competition for places between universities.

Item ID: 8210
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1744-988X
Keywords: clinical agencies; clinical hours; mental health nursing; pre-registration nursing curricula; theory hours; survey
Date Deposited: 16 Feb 2010 04:24
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1110 Nursing > 111005 Mental Health Nursing @ 50%
13 EDUCATION > 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy > 130209 Medicine, Nursing and Health Curriculum and Pedagogy @ 50%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9202 Health and Support Services > 920209 Mental Health Services @ 50%
92 HEALTH > 9202 Health and Support Services > 920205 Health Education and Promotion @ 25%
93 EDUCATION AND TRAINING > 9303 Curriculum > 930301 Assessment and Evaluation of Curriculum @ 25%
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