Improving children’s nurses’ knowledge of caring for people with mental health problems

Abstract

[Figure: see text] The aim of this project was to provide training to nursing staff to improve their confidence and knowledge when caring for children and young people with mental health problems. A one-day bespoke training course was given to a purposeful sample of eight children's nurses. The nurses completed questionnaires before and after the training day and a third questionnaire three months after the course. All nurses reported an increase in knowledge and confidence when caring for young people with mental health problems.

U.S. School Nursing Job Analysis

“…Similarly, school nurses need education regarding approaches to addressing the mental illness of students and care of students with ACEs. The need for such training is especially pertinent when considering school nurses indicate mental illness as the most prevalent health issue among students but also report that they do not have enough training to adequately address it in school (Higson et al, 2017; Muggeo & Ginsburg, 2019; Pryjmachuk et al, 2012). School nurses should also receive training on how to facilitate some of the community factors that can ameliorate the impact of mental illness and ACEs on school outcomes, such as safe communities, supportive neighbors, and consistent meals with family (Robles et al, 2019).…”

The Role of the School Nurse in Suicide Interventions: An Integrative Review

“…SNs have expressed feeling doubtful about their competency and needing more education about MH issues (Jönsson, Maltestam, Tops, & Garmy, 2019). While training nurses on MH topics has been shown to increase confidence and knowledge in providing MH care (Blair, Chhabra, Belonick, & Tackett, 2018; Bullock, Libbus, Lewis, & Gayer, 2002; Higson, Emery, & Jenkins, 2017), more research is needed on how increased competency influences nursing practice and outcomes. Interprofessional education is an important way in which to develop collaboration among SNs, teachers, and other school professionals (Bohnenkamp et al, 2015).…”

School Nurses’ Experiences Working With Students With Mental Health Problems: A Qualitative Study

“…These authors stated that school nurses with adequate training regarding children and adolescent mental health could offer better help. Higson, Emery, and Jenkins (2017) showed in a recent pilot project that 1 day of training improved children's nurses' confidence when caring for children and adolescents with mental health problems.…”