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Mental health nurses in primary care: Qualitative outcomes of the M ental H ealth N urse I ncentive P rogram
Author(s) -
Lakeman Richard
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of mental health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.911
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1447-0349
pISSN - 1445-8330
DOI - 10.1111/inm.12017
Subject(s) - mental health , thematic analysis , medicine , qualitative research , psychological intervention , nursing , psychology , family medicine , psychiatry , social science , sociology
The M ental H ealth N urse I ncentive P rogram ( MHNIP ) is a government‐funded programme, which, since 2007, has enabled mental health nurses to work in primary care settings in A ustralia in collaboration with general practitioners ( GPs ) or private psychiatrists. To date, small‐scale qualitative studies have explored outcomes of the programme from the point of view of nurses, consumers, and the perceptions of GPs . This study reports on an on‐line survey of credentialed mental health nurses perceptions of outcomes of the MHNIP . Two hundred and twenty five nurses who worked in MHNIP provided detailed narrative responses that were examined using thematic content analysis. The most commonly‐cited outcomes were reductions in symptoms or improved coping, improved relationships, and enhanced community participation. Other reported outcomes included reduced hospitalization or use of state‐funded mental health services, better use of health services, the continuation or establishment of meaningful occupation, improved physical health and medication management, less use of coercive interventions, and greater independence.