Implementing holistic practices in mental health nursing: a national consultation

A national consultation exercise was held as part of a review of mental health nursing in England.

To gather views as to how best to develop mental health nursing to support a holistic approach to care, taking into account psychological, physical social and spiritual needs.

National open consultation by email over a 3-month period.

326 written replies were received. The largest group of responses was from National Health Service (NHS) organisations (n=92, 28.2%); 69.9% of responses were from groups or organisations (n=225).

A consultation document was devised by a national reference group, including four questions relating to the development of practice in the four domains of: psychological, physical, social and spiritual care.

The majority of responses supported mental health nurses (MHNs) providing psychological therapies (n=271, 95.1%). To support this happening, responders most frequently described a need for appropriate specialist training post-registration (n=114). To improve physical well-being of service users, the most frequent suggestion was that MHNs should promote healthy lifestyles, e.g. by encouraging physical activity and advising on ways to reduce illicit drug, alcohol and tobacco use (n=152). Responders most frequently cited the need for MHNs to understand resources to support social inclusion (n=110), e.g. knowing how to access local resources, benefits, housing and employment advice. MHNs were most frequently seen as requiring appropriate training to help them support spiritual/religious needs (n=96).

The consultation was successful in obtaining views, in particular, of organisations and groups. These subsequently influenced national recommendations made by the Chief Nursing Officer's Review of Mental Health Nursing.