Media Release
May 4 2007
UniSA’s mental health mentors give SA nurses the edge
UniSA
will lead a new State Government funded program to better equip more
nurses to become mental health nursing specialists.
The $90,000 program will offer mentoring to mental health nurse
practitioner candidates over a period of 18 months.
The first of its kind in Australia, the program is funded by the
Department of Health and will
support nine new nurse practitioner candidates to develop a clinical
practice portfolio leading to authorisation as nurse practitioners with
the Nurses Board of South
Australia.
UniSA specialist in mental health nursing,
Associate Professor Nicholas Procter says the demand for experienced
mental health nurses is high.
“About 50 per cent of people with a mental illness are not identified by
their health professional as having a psychological problem,” he says.
“We also know that less than 40 per cent of people with mental illness
receive any mental health care in a 12-month period.
“Nurses have an important clinical and public health role across the
health care system, and properly trained and experienced, they can play
an invaluable role in identifying mental health problems and providing
care and treatment for individuals.
“They work across a whole range of health settings including accident
and emergency departments, community based crisis intervention teams and
in child and youth health centres.
“Advanced training and mentorship through a program such as this one
will give nurses the capacity to provide leadership in a range of care
and treatment settings. With about 75 per cent of all adult mental
health problems commencing before the age of 25, it is especially
important that we have advanced mental health professionals available to
assess and plan care for people early.”
Under the program UniSA mentors provide clinical leadership development,
coaching and academic development to help each nurse practitioner to
build the personal and professional capacity required to meet the needs
of people with mental illness.
Prof Procter says particular care will be taken to support each nurse in
the combined roles of clinical care provider, educator, mentor, manager
and researcher within the practice setting.
“An important feature of the mentorship program is that each participant
will complete a portfolio to articulate how they define, undertake and
evaluate their clinical practice specific to the needs of South
Australians with a mental illness,” he says
“This vital planning assessment skill ensures that these nurses will
have the skills to provide best practice in the field and to continue to
improve care services as needs change.”
Further information about the mentorship program is available from the
principal mentor Associate Professor Nicholas Procter.
Contact for interview
-
Assoc Prof Nicholas Procter office (08) 8302 2148 mobile 0417 080 630 email nicholas.procter@unisa.edu.au
Media contact
-
Michèle Nardelli office (08) 8302 0966 mobile 0418 823 673
email michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au