Mental health nurses can increase capability and capacity in primary care by educating practice nurses: an evaluation of an education programme in England.

Most people with a mental health problem in England are cared for by clinicians in primary care who may have had little or no training in this area. Our aim was to develop an accessible education programme which was appropriate to the learning needs of this workforce. A survey of the mental health and well-being training needs and preferred learning methods of practice nurses was undertaken, then a programme of education was developed by a primary care mental health expert. Teaching was delivered by mental health nurses who were trained as educators. Both the practice nurses and mental health nurses felt their clinical practice would improve as a result of being involved in this programme. To sustain the learning, mental health nurses were supported by attending and then leading their own action learning sets. This model of education can be adapted and used by health organizations both nationally and internationally. Research is required to find out whether training practice nurses using this programme has an impact on patients.