Addressing the mental health nurse shortage: Undergraduate nursing students working as assistants in nursing in inpatient mental health settings

Abstract

The population of mental health nurses is ageing and in the next few years we can expect many to retire. This paper makes an argument for the employment of undergraduate nursing students as Assistants in Nursing (AINs) in mental health settings as a strategy to encourage them to consider a career in mental health nursing. Skill mix in nursing has been debated since at least the 1980s. It appears that the use of AINs in general nursing is established and will continue. The research suggests that with the right skill mix, nursing outcomes and safety are not compromised. It seems inevitable that assistants in nursing will increasingly be part of the mental health nursing workforce; it is timely for mental health nurses to lead these changes so nursing care and the future mental health nursing workforce stay in control of nursing.

Using workload measurement tools in diverse care contexts: the experience of staff in mental health and learning disability inpatient settings

“…Indeed, Browne et al . () in their study of nurse shortages in mental health, report both the lack of research in mental health nursing and the paucity of validated measures to determine the optimal skill mix of staff. Similarly, Mafuba & Gates () in their review of literature on LD staffing levels conclude that no empirical work that provides evidence with which to determine safe staffing levels for LD services has yet been undertaken.…”

Assistants in nursing working with mental health consumers in the emergency department

“…Other similar roles in Australia and overseas are given titles such as Health Care Assistants (HCAs), Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UPAs), and Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) (Browne et al . ). However, it is important to note that depending on the role and setting, varying educational qualifications are required, and that this study involved only AINs undertaking university undergraduate tertiary education.…”

“…A potential advantage of employing AINs is that they are able to perform basic, yet vital aspects of care, and in doing so free up nursing staff to perform advanced clinical, technical, and administrative tasks (Browne et al . ). Another advantage is the provision of increasingly holistic care; with AINs able to spend time interacting and listening to consumers, aspects of care RNs may have to forego in order to perform other duties (Browne et al .…”

“…Another advantage is the provision of increasingly holistic care; with AINs able to spend time interacting and listening to consumers, aspects of care RNs may have to forego in order to perform other duties (Browne et al . ).…”

“…), with Browne et al . () concluding that ‘correct balance of RNs to AINs’ (p. 543) is integral to consumer safety (p. 543).…”