Academic Course Lead, Kennedy

Hi, my name is Kennedy, and I am a mental health nurse (MHN). I work as an academic at the University of Huddersfield and the course lead for our MSc Mental Health Nursing programme. I am currently completing my PhD looking at the heuristics of nurses when administering certain types of medication to patients diagnosed with a personality disorder. Oh, and in my spare time I like to play hockey (centre mid if you are a fellow player).

Kennedy

“Education and training are vital throughout the profession…”

I thought it may be a good idea to give an account, both personally and professionally, about my experience of being a part of such an important review.

I was lucky enough to work alongside a fantastic team in the Baroness Mary Watkins of Tavistock Review, especially within the severe mental illness sub-group. Our group made up of a variety of experts with different knowledge and backgrounds. We had academics (obviously!), people from NHS England, Royal College of Nursing, carers, service users, which proved invaluable and allowed for such as great piece of work to be developed.

Our objectives were to identify the key issues faced in our profession and make recommendations on how we can attempt to overcome theses. In addition to the severe mental illness sup-group there were two others: children and young people’s mental health and improving population and public health outcomes

Some of the recommendations that were made that stuck out to me was the paramount value of enhancing the therapeutic relationship and overcoming the power differential between staff and service users. Education and training are vital throughout the profession, we must educate our student MHNs to understand the profession’s history and development. Mental health nurses must emphasise a focus on prevention, holistic and person-centred care, including not only mental wellbeing but physical and social aliments. Research and Development teams should aim to offer student placements to nurses, as this will allow students to see how we develop our practice and displays another amazing career development within the mental health nursing profession.

Being in a group with such successful and knowledgeable team was understandably daunting, my first year in academia and first piece of work with NHS England, imposter syndrome was at the forefront. Despite this, the experience of the group members was settling, and their support allowed me to find my seat in the group.

During this review, I learnt many things, but I will share two of the ones that have had the most impact on my day-to-day life. Mental health nursing needs to be evidence based, the research by mental health nurses over the last few years is fantastic, we must now apply this to our practice ensuring our patients are being heard and evaluating from what we have learnt. Secondly, it is without doubt important that we continually adapt and challenge HEI’s approach to education ensuring that our student nurses are prepared for that mighty jump from student nurse to qualified nurse and how we can support to develop the identity of the mental health nurse.

If you do ever get the opportunity to be a part of a project like or any that looks at developing mental health nursing, jump at it.

Kennedy, Course Lead MSc Mental Health Nursing programme, University of Huddersfield