Mental health nursing: issues and roles

1994 saw the publication of the report of the Mental Health Nursing Review Team (Department of Health, 1994). This report signified the end of a three year process where mental health nursing was examined from the perspectives of practice, education, research and management. The last review of mental health nursing took place in 1968, but since that time there have been enormous changes in our thinking about mental illness, in the delivery of services and a number of very exciting developments in treatment. The review process included the widest possible consultation with other professionals, user organisations, patients, relatives and carers. It also co-opted expert advisers and took written and oral evidence, and visited clinical services across England. There were altogether 42 recommendations and during this article reference will be made to a number of the most important of these. Before a detailed examination of the issues, it is worth commencing with the tenth recommen dation of the review, i.e. that the title Mental Health Nurse (MHN) be used both for nurses who work in the community and for those who work in hospital and day services. Although there are those who would prefer to use the more descriptive term, psychiatric nurse, using one term to cover all nurses is now much more appropriate. MHNs should be using the same core skills regardless of the setting in which they practice. Current thinking about continuity of care reinforces the view that the continued separation of care and treatment between community and in-patient settings is counterproductive.