Addressing mental health nursing workforce issues in Australia: a case study analysis
| Date | 14 June 2013 |
| Published date | 14 June 2013 |
| Pages | 89-102 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-10-2012-0034 |
| Author | Catherine Hungerford,Donna Hodgson |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Addressing mental health nursing
workforce issues in Australia: a case
study analysis
Catherine Hungerford and Donna Hodgson
Catherine Hungerford is based
at the Faculty of Health,
University of Canberra,
Canberra, Australia.
Donna Hodgson is based at
the ACT Health Directorate,
Canberra, Australia.
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report findings of a review of a unique program that has helped to
address workforce needs and support Registered Nurses (RNs) working in a public mental health service in
Australia. RNs are employed, facilitated to gain clinical experience in diverse mental health settings, and
funded to study a graduate diploma in mental health nursing. Upon completion, there is no obligation to
continue working for the health service, but most RNs have chosen to do so.
Design/methodology/approach – A case study approach was taken to review the Program, using the
focus group method of data collection. Past and present Program participants, and also their mentors and
managers, were interviewed about the Program’s benefits and challenges.
Findings – The findings highlight the many successes of the Program and also suggest areas for
development. One of these is the need to examine the curriculum content of the graduate diploma and
consider requirements around clinical experience. Another area of concern is the “us/them”culture
identified, which involves RNs who have no postgraduate tertiary qualifications marginalising RNs
undertaking further study. Such a culture has the potential to undermine the profession locally and also
more broadly.
Originality/value – Findings of the review provide valuable insights for other health services and also
academic providers who seek to address ongoing workforce issues related to mental health nursing.
Keywords Australia, Mental health services, Registered nurses, Workforce, Education program
Paper type Case study
Introduction
This paper describes findings of a review of a program that was established to enable Registered
Nurses (RNs) to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to work effectively in a
mental health setting. The Mental Health Post Graduate Registered Nurse (MH PG RN) Program
is provided by the public mental health service in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), a small
jurisdiction in south-eastern Australia. The Program supports RNs to gain clinical experience as
employees, in a variety of mental health service settings, while studying the degree of graduate
diploma in mental health nursing at a local university. Participating RNs come from a range of
backgrounds. This includes graduate RNs with an interest in mental health nursing; and RNs
with many years of experience working in other fields of nursing who are seeking change. A third
group of participants is RNs with limited experience working in a mental health setting who see
benefits in extending that experience as well as gaining a specialist postgraduate qualification.
The review of the MH PG RN Program was undertaken using a case study approach. Findings
of the review are important as they enabled the development of strategies to improve the
Program at the front line. In addition, the findings provide useful insights for health service and
The authors acknowledge that they
are employees of the organisations
involved in providing this MH PG
RN Program. For this reason, they
would like to thank Dr Peter
Donnan, Teaching and Learning
Centre, University of Canberra, for
his oversight of the research to
ensure integrity and objectivity; and
also his generosity in facilitating the
focus group interviews and
providing an independent review of
the analysis. The authors would
also like to acknowledge the
following people, who have played
an important role in the
development of the MH PG RN
Program over the last 25 years:
David Battersby,Christine Charlton,
Jon Chesterson, Sheryl Harrison,
Brian Jacobs, Christopher Kewley,
Ray Horne, Marie Hughes; Kevin
Kidd, Sue McConnachie, Steve
Medza, Paul Morrison, Elizabeth
Porra and Jenny Williams.
DOI 10.1108/JMHTEP-10-2012-0034 VOL. 8 NO. 2 2013, pp. 89-102, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1755-6228
j
THE JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING, EDUCATION AND PRACTICE
j
PAGE 89
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