Brenda Happell1, Shifra Waks2, Julia Bocking3, Aine Horgan4, Fionnuala Manning4, Sonya Greaney5, John Goodwin4, Brett Scholz3, Kornelis Jan van der Vaart6, Jerry Allon6, Elisabeth Hals7, Arild Granerud7, Rory Doody8, Sally Wai-Chi Chan9, Mari Lahti10,11, Heikki Ellilä10,11, Jarmo Pulli10,11, Annaliina Vatula10,11, Chris Platania-Phung12, Graeme Browne13, Martha Griffin14, Siobhan Russell14, Liam MacGabhann14, Einar Bjornsson15, Pall Biering15. 1. Professor of Nursing and Equally Well Ambassador, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, Australia. 2. Consumer Academic, the University of Melbourne, Parkville, Ireland. 3. ANU Medical School, College of Health and Medicine, the Australian National University, Woden, Australia. 4. School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. 5. Southern Area Mental Health Services, Expert by Experience Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. 6. Institute for Nursing Studies, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 7. Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Hedmark, Norway. 8. Area Lead for Mental Health Engagement, Southern Area Health Service Executive, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. 9. University of Newcastle, Singapore, Singapore. 10. Turku University of Applied Sciences, Turku, Finland. 11. Department of Nursing Science, Turku University, Turku, Finland. 12. School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia. 13. Masters Mental Health Nursing, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Coordinator Port Macquarie Campus. 14. School of Nursing & Human Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland. 15. Department of Nursing, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mental health nursing skills and knowledge are vital for the provision of high-quality healthcare across all settings. Negative attitudes of nurses, towards both mental illness and mental health nursing as a profession, limit recognition of the value of these skills and knowledge. Experts by Experience have a significant role in enhancing mental health nursing education. The impact of this involvement on attitudes to mental health nursing has not been well researched. AIM: To explore the impact of Expert by Experience-led teaching on students' perceptions of mental health nursing. METHODS: Qualitative exploratory study involving focus groups with nursing students from five European countries and Australia. RESULTS: Following Expert by Experience-led teaching, participants described more positive views towards mental health nursing skills and knowledge in three main ways: learning that mental health is everywhere, becoming better practitioners, and better appreciation of mental health nursing. CONCLUSIONS: Experts by experience contribute to promoting positive attitudinal change in nursing students towards mental health nursing skills and knowledge. Attitudinal change is essential for the provision of high-quality mental health care in specialist mental health services and throughout the healthcare sector.
BACKGROUND: Mental health nursing skills and knowledge are vital for the provision of high-quality healthcare across all settings. Negative attitudes of nurses, towards both mental illness and mental health nursing as a profession, limit recognition of the value of these skills and knowledge. Experts by Experience have a significant role in enhancing mental health nursing education. The impact of this involvement on attitudes to mental health nursing has not been well researched. AIM: To explore the impact of Expert by Experience-led teaching on students' perceptions of mental health nursing. METHODS: Qualitative exploratory study involving focus groups with nursing students from five European countries and Australia. RESULTS: Following Expert by Experience-led teaching, participants described more positive views towards mental health nursing skills and knowledge in three main ways: learning that mental health is everywhere, becoming better practitioners, and better appreciation of mental health nursing. CONCLUSIONS: Experts by experience contribute to promoting positive attitudinal change in nursing students towards mental health nursing skills and knowledge. Attitudinal change is essential for the provision of high-quality mental health care in specialist mental health services and throughout the healthcare sector.
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Keywords:
Attitudes education of health professionals; experts by experience; mental health mental health nursing nurse education; nursing practice