Developing a career in the mental health services: guidance for student nurses

Current concern about a shortage of nurses has led to attention focusing on the provision of career guidance as a strategy to facilitate retention in the workforce. This paper presents findings on career guidance provided for psychiatric nursing students, and thus adds to the very small volume of research that exists on guidance in nursing generally. Questionnaires were sent to 556 Registered Mental Nurses shortly after qualification; 80% responded. This represented the first phase of a longitudinal study of these nurses' careers. Participants were asked whether they had received information about career pathways that might be pursued, educational opportunities available and work experience outside the NHS. If not they were asked whether they had wanted such information. They were also asked whether they had been given advice about planning their own career. Only a minority of respondents had received information or advice, but the majority would have liked to have done so. The findings are discussed in the context of whether there is a need for career guidance and, if so, by whom it should be provided.