The lifeworld characteristics of mental health nurses engaging in talk‐based therapies: a qualitative study from Scotland and England

Accessible summary•  Nursing enviconanunderronments challenge new roles in talk based therapies. •  These environments are uncertain, complex and unpredictable. •  Intra‐personal capabilities help mitigate these challenges.Abstract Twenty‐four mental health nurses were interviewed to gain a greater understanding of their experiences of working within roles delivering talk‐based therapies. The study participants, while echoing the broad direction and purpose of policy that supports mental health nurses expanding talk‐based therapy roles, also offered insights into the challenges associated with embedding these roles into mental health settings. One area of findings analysed using Nvivo 8 software related to the characteristics of the environments in which these roles are, or will be enacted. Three key characteristics of these environments were: (1) low power and worth; (2) obstacles to success; and (3) uncertainty. Responses to the challenges found within this study are required from individual nurses, local organizations and strategic levels of nursing to ensure the successful implementation and uptake of talk‐based therapy roles into the mental health nursing profession.