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Choosing and remaining in mental health nursing: Perceptions of Western A ustralian nurses
Author(s) -
Harrison Carole A.,
Hauck Yvonne,
Hoffman Rosemary
Publication year - 2014
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.12094
Subject(s) - mental health , thematic analysis , nursing , workforce , nurse education , psychology , occupational health nursing , medicine , qualitative research , public health , health education , psychiatry , social science , sociology , economics , economic growth
Mental health nursing has an ageing workforce with a critical shortage of nurses in Western A ustralia. 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 A ustralia 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.