Harrison Carole A, Hauck Yvonne, Hoffman Rosemary
North Metropolitan Health Service Mental Health, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2014 Dec;23(6):561-9. doi: 10.1111/inm.12094. Epub 2014 Oct 13.
Mental health nursing has an ageing workforce with a critical shortage of nurses in Western Australia. Additionally, mental health is not the preferred career for many graduate nurses. Current challenges with recruitment and retention suggest that strategies are needed to address this issue. This research project adopted a novel approach that focused on exploring the positive aspects of why mental health nurses remain, rather than why they leave. A cross-sectional design was employed comprising a brief interview survey, and nurses working within one public mental health service in Western Australia were invited to participate. A total of 192 nurses participated across 5 months, from adult, older adult, forensic, and education/research programmes. Thematic analysis was conducted from five key questions, and responses from questions one and two are discussed in this paper: 'Why did you choose mental health nursing?' and 'Why do you remain in mental health nursing?'. The main themes extracted in response to choosing mental health nursing were wanting to make a difference, mental health captured my interest, encouraged by others, and opportunities. Subsequent themes extracted from responses to remaining in mental health nursing were facing reality, passion for mental health nursing, patient-centred caring, and workplace conditions. Findings will be utilized to inform strategies for recruitment and retention of graduate nurses; further development of support systems, such as preceptorship training and improving student clinical experiences; as well as improving professional development opportunities for existing mental health nurses.
精神卫生护理领域的劳动力老龄化，西澳大利亚州护士严重短缺。此外，精神卫生并非许多本科毕业护士的首选职业。目前在招聘和留用方面面临的挑战表明，需要采取策略来解决这一问题。本研究项目采用了一种新颖的方法，重点探讨精神科护士留下来的积极原因，而非离职原因。研究采用横断面设计，包括简短的访谈调查，并邀请了在西澳大利亚州一家公共精神卫生服务机构工作的护士参与。在5个月的时间里，共有192名护士参与，他们来自成人、老年、法医以及教育/研究项目。通过五个关键问题进行了主题分析，本文讨论了问题一和问题二的回答：“你为什么选择精神卫生护理？”以及“你为什么留在精神卫生护理领域？”。针对选择精神卫生护理给出的主要主题包括想要有所作为、精神卫生引起了我的兴趣、受到他人鼓励以及机会。从关于留在精神卫生护理领域的回答中提取的后续主题包括面对现实、对精神卫生护理的热情、以患者为中心的护理以及工作场所条件。研究结果将用于为本科毕业护士的招聘和留用策略提供信息；进一步发展支持系统，如导师培训和改善学生临床体验；以及为现有的精神科护士提供更多专业发展机会。
