Why physical well-being is important in mental health nursing
There are concerns about mental health nurse education not being specific enough to the specialty. Some physical health competencies required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in preregistration training are rarely needed in mental health practice. The persistently high premature mortality rate among people with mental health conditions, should provide the catalyst for collaborative work between the NMC, nurses and others to improve specialist training and education.
The persistently high premature mortality rate among people with mental health conditions should be a catalyst for change
Concerns have been raised about the education of mental health nurses suggesting that it fails to prioritise mental health-specific skills and knowledge adequately.
Does this signal a long-term trend toward abolishing mental health nurse training at preregistration level?
Not quite. While it is true that some physical health competencies required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) are seldom needed in mental health practice, this appears to be more a case of mismanagement than a deliberate effort to undermine the profession.
The issue stems largely from the NMC’s lack of engagement and understanding in determining which physical health skills should be prioritised for mental health nurses.
Training requirements need to align better with the realities of mental health nursing
Addressing this challenge requires proactive involvement from mental health nurse groups – including union members, academics and nurse leaders – who must work collaboratively with the NMC to ensure that future training requirements do align better with the realities of mental health nursing. Without such engagement, the risk of further misalignment and ineffective planning increases.
A far greater concern, however, is that focusing too much energy on the issue of learning a small number of unnecessary skills will divert mental health nurses from acquiring essential physical health promotion and treatment competencies needed to provide high-quality care.
High rates of premature mortality among people with mental health conditions
The persistently high rates of premature mortality among people with mental health conditions remain deeply concerning, and mental health services have long failed to address this issue effectively.
‘True holistic care recognises that mental and physical health are inseparable. There is no health without both’
As the largest professional group in these services, nurses have a critical role to play.
Ensuring that mental health nurses develop the right physical health competencies is not merely a matter of education policy – it is an ethical imperative.
True holistic care recognises that mental and physical health are inseparable. There is no health without both.
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