title: Critical appraisal of the Scottish registered mental nurse training programme in relation to the care of the person with affective disorder.
abstract: The preparation of the registered mental nurse (RMN) student to care for people with affective disorder was examined in two studies involving the training programme of the National Board for Scotland. In the first study, the sample curriculum, which was prepared in 1978 and which represents the rudimentary basis of the present eight modules of training, was analysed by the author. In the second study, examination questions citing affective disorder were drawn from the final examination papers of the years 1976-1985. These were analysed by the author to isolate their 'key characteristics'. The same questions were subsequently analysed by a panel of judges to identify their ideological orientation, in terms of accepted models of mental disorder. Both studies suggested that students were prepared to fulfil a subordinate role. The content of the outline syllabus from 1978 emphasized the preparation of the nurse to support medical staff through 'medical-expressive' forms of care. Specific reference to non-medical care was distinguished by a lack of definition and a simplistic attitude towards assessment and care-planning. The examination questions also favoured a clinical-somatic, or medical, orientation to care, over any other discrete form of psychosocial nursing. The past decade has been distinguished by interest in individualized care, psychosocial and person-centred models of nursing practice. These approaches to care appear to have much to offer the care of people with affective disorder. These studies question the extent to which such an interest exerts influence over the syllabus and examination system.
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Psychotherapy Nursing Service, Royal Dundee Liff Hospital.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Barker
mesh_terms: D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000451:nursing*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D012380:Role; D012606:Scotland