On the brink of change? Implications of the review of undergraduate education in New Zealand for mental health nursing.
A New Zealand Nursing Council review of undergraduate education provides an ideal opportunity to make much needed changes to the system of preparation for mental health nurses. This article critiques comprehensive nursing education through an examination of its history in New Zealand, recent mental health reports and a projected estimate of workforce needs. Historical analysis reveals a process of marginalization and invisibilization of psychiatric/mental health nursing within comprehensive programmes with a consequent reduction of skills and a weakening of the profession. The author concludes that psychiatric/mental health nursing is a distinct scope of practice which requires specialty undergraduate preparation.
Prebble
K
K
Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand. katep@adhb.govt.nz
D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005544:Forecasting; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009520:New Zealand; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration