title: Reconnecting with policy: requirements for survival as a mental health nurse.
abstract: This article discusses the disconnection between mental health nurses and policy, and the importance of reconnecting such relationships not only to benefit the consumers with whom we work but also to influence health care policies and, ultimately, contribute to strategies to improve the health of our nation. In this article, I draw on my own experiences and apply these to a discussion of how we, as mental health nurses, can influence and strengthen our relationships with nursing policy.
authors.affiliation: Center for Mental Health Research, Policy and Service Development, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand. Frances.Hughes@clear.net.NZ
authors.forename: Frances A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Hughes
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D009520:New Zealand; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009742:Nursing Theory; D011057:Politics; D011340:Problem Solving; D011361:Professional Competence; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012660:Semantics; D012956:Societies, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical