Reconceptualizing the theory-practice gap in mental health nursing

The purpose of this paper is to identify the key problems in bridging the gap between theory and practice in the education of mental health nurses and to propose a strategy for overcoming these problems. The paper begins by reviewing the existing literature on the subject of the theory-practice gap, and identifying the unique problems which mental health nursing faces in attempting to address them. It then goes on to propose a unified model of clinical nursing practice, nurse education and user involvement, which would place nurse educators at the forefront of radical reform of mental health services.