Continuing education opportunities for recently qualified mental health diplomates

While successive reports concerned with mental health services have emphasized the importance of continuing professional development for mental health nurses, there have been long-standing concerns about the provision of appropriate courses and opportunities for attendance. Drawing from a longitudinal study of the careers of a cohort of mental health diplomates, this paper focuses on fulfilment of their continuing education plans in the early post-qualification period. During the first 6 months, just under half the cohort had wanted to start a course but been unable to do so. For some, even at this early career stage, dissatisfaction with continuing education opportunities was cited as reason for leaving, or considering leaving, a first job. Reasons for starting courses included career progress and meeting the care-giving needs of the immediate work situation. Diplomates may need guidance on their continuing education needs; there was much uncertainty about plans to take courses and moreover, demand for courses which they had wanted to start but been unable to do so, was not always sustained.