Master's level mental health nursing competencies, a prerequisite for equal health among service users in mental health care

• Published in: International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being Vol. 13; no. sup1; pp. 1502013 - 9
• Main Authors: Jormfeldt, Henrika, Doyle, Louise, Ellilä, Heikki, Lahti, Mari, Higgins, Agnes, Keogh, Brian, Meade, Oonagh, Stickley, Theodore, Sitvast, Jan, Skärsäter, Ingela, Kilkku, Nina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01.01.2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: "master's level mental health nursing competencies"; Alternative approaches; Attitudes; Clinical Competence; Competence; Core competencies; Curricula; Curriculum; Delivery of Health Care; Education, Nursing, Graduate; Europe; Evidence-based nursing; for Thematic Cluster; Health behavior; Health education; Health Equity; Health promotion; Health services; Health status; Holistic Health; Humans; Lifestyles; Medical education; Mental disorders; Mental Disorders - nursing; Mental Health; Mental health care; Mental health promotion; Mental Health Services; Mortality rates; Nurses; Nursing; Objectives; Patients; physical health; Premature mortality; Psychiatric Nursing - education; Psychiatric-mental health nursing; Psychosis; Role ambiguity; Schizophrenia; Skills; Social factors; Europe; Holistic health; physical health; mental health care; master’s level mental health nursing competencies
• ISSN: 1748-2631; 1748-2623; 1748-2631
• DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2018.1502013

Purpose: This discussion paper aims to explore the need of a clarified definition of master's level mental health nursing competencies in terms of knowledge, skills and attitudes in a European context. Mental health service users have, in spite of their right to equal overall health, higher rates of physical illness and are more likely to experience premature death than the general population. Implementation of a holistic concept of health comprising mental, physical and social aspects of health in mental health services has previously proved to be challenging. Methods: Master's level mental health nursing competencies in recent literature are discussed and illuminated in terms of knowledge, skills and attitudes in order to enable the promotion of equal overall health among service users in mental health services. Results: The discussion show contents, values and utility of master's level mental health nursing competencies in mental health services and contribute to reduced role ambiguity by distinguishing master's level responsibilities from undergraduate nursing tasks and obligations of other professionals in mental health care. Conclusion: This discussion paper shapes implications for developments in master's level mental health nursing education curricula.