title: Reconceptualizing the theory-practice gap in mental health nursing.
abstract: The purpose of this paper is to identify the key problems in bridging the gap between theory and practice in the education of mental health nurses and to propose a strategy for overcoming these problems. The paper begins by reviewing the existing literature on the subject of the theory-practice gap, and identifying the unique problems which mental health nursing faces in attempting to address them. It then goes on to propose a unified model of clinical nursing practice, nurse education and user involvement, which would place nurse educators at the forefront of radical reform of mental health services.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hopton
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009742:Nursing Theory; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods*