What 'capital' do mental health nurses utilise to address people's physical health?

Abstract

<b>Background</b>: People with mental distress experience higher rates of physical co-morbidities. These include HIV infection, cardiovascular disease, metabolic conditions and certain types of cancer. There appears to be ambiguity surrounding nursing roles in addressing these health inequalities. Previous studies have not demonstrated the impact of organisational and structural issues and how they help or hinder nurses in meeting policy and regulatory mandates.

<b>Aims</b>: The study aimed to examine how registered mental health nurses working in one UK mental health service understood their role in providing physical healthcare to people with mental distress. In particular the impact of organisational & structural factors, relationships & educational competencies on their role.

<b>Project description</b>: This study was informed by Pierre Bourdieu's Theory of Practice (1977). Semi-structured 1:1 interviews were conducted with nurses (n = 7 inpatient, n = 7 community) working in one UK service between January-May 2018. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysis was informed by Braun and Clarke's (2006) Thematic Analysis. The study received a favourable ethical opinion from the author's institution.

<b>Outcomes</b>: Analysis reveals that nurses’ work in in this area is largely invisible. Nurses utilise, what Bourdieu would consider forms of capital in order to execute their role. These include the use of therapeutic relationships, experience, exposure, dual-training and confidence. Pre-registration education was deemed to have little capital within the field and may be contributing to nurses’ emotional burden.

<b>Implications</b>: Thought needs to be given as to how nurses will maintain clinical competency and confidence. Education providers and health services need to work in tandem to better meet the ongoing needs of the workforce.

<b>Learning Objectives</b>: 1. Mental health nurses provide physical healthcare & do using various forms of capital 2. Their work may be invisible and therefore not recognized.