The Education of Australia's Psychiatric Nurses: Uncertainties and Possibilities

Thesis (M.Nurs.), College of Nursing, Washington State UniversityIn the past two decades, significant changes have occurred for psychiatric nurses in Australia. Among these has been the transfer of nursing education to the university setting. Since this transition, many articles have been published expressing apprehension about the general state of psychiatric nursing and the undetermined ability of the current educational system to prepare nurses for the contemporary treatment of the Australian mentally ill population. Nursing research has examined various aspects of the dilemma, including the differences between the graduates of the hospital-based verses the university-based curriculums, the decrease in the number of students choosing to work in psychiatric nursing, the negative attitudes and misconceptions about mental illness, and the adequacy of theoretical and clinical experience. By examining and reevaluating the educational process to meet the needs of students, educational institutions, health care facilities, and community, the needs of the mentally ill will be better served. Reviewing the available research literature, a clearer picture may be drawn about the education of psychiatric nurses in Australia, and proposals made for further research needs