The Mental Health Act: exploring the role of nurses.

This paper examines the role of approved mental health professional (AMHP) which was introduced by the Mental Health Act 2007. It outlines the scope and functions of the role and explores the likely impact on the nursing profession. While the expansion of the role does offer opportunities for career progression and enhancing professional autonomy and status, it must be accompanied by a corresponding increase in resources and training, to enable nurses to fully harness the AMHP role. This expansion will inevitably bring with it increased legal responsibility and accountability and the extent to which mental health/learning disability nurses will be willing to shoulder that remains to be seen.