Counselling and mental health nursing: a qualitative study

The author draws upon his experience of training, practising and teaching both counselling and mental health nursing in order to examine the relevance of counselling skills training to mental health nurses. The qualitative study reported in this paper elicits the feelings and thoughts of five mental health nurses about their attitude towards individual counselling work with mental health clients. It is asserted that newly qualified mental health nurses may feel inadequately prepared for this aspect of their work and they may also feel inadequately supported. Additional counselling training may help equip mental health nurses for the skills they need to work within the therapeutic relationship. By not providing adequate counselling skills training, mental health nurse educators may contribute to a cycle of incompetence. Training methods are identified that may enhance nurse training and help promote competence and confidence for the newly qualified nurse.