Mental health triage: towards a model for nursing practice

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Psychiatric Services
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Mental health triage services are increasingly relied upon globally and in Australia.
• Nurses form the majority of the mental health triage workforce, conducting most point-of-entry assessments.
• Despite a decade of operation in some areas, there is limited research and theory to guide practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the lack of theoretical models in mental health triage nursing.
• To inform and guide the practice and professional development of mental health triage nurses.
• To present a provisional model for mental health triage nursing practice.

Main Methods:

• Drawing on findings and recommendations from PhD research.
• Facilitating discussion on the need for theoretical frameworks.
• Developing and presenting a provisional practice model.

Main Results:

• Identified a significant gap in theoretical underpinnings for mental health triage nursing.
• Emphasized the critical role of nurses in point-of-entry mental health assessment.
• Proposed a provisional model to guide practice and development.

Conclusions:

• There is a pressing need to develop theoretical models for mental health triage nursing.
• The provisional model offers a foundation for guiding practice and professional development.
• Further research and theoretical development are essential for this evolving field.