Biomedical subjects

Neil Brimblecombe

Publications and source records attributed to Neil Brimblecombe.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

A survey of the education of nurses working in mental health settings in 12 European countries.

BACKGROUND: Recent European policies emphasise that the training and education of health professionals are a major means of improving mental health services. Little comparative research has been undertaken to ascertain the degree of homogeneity in the training of nurses working in mental health settings across Europe. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the training of nurses working in mental health settings in a range of European countries. Specifically, information regarding criteria for entry into training, type of qualification awarded and further training opportunities was to be explored. METHODS AND PARTICIPANTS: A specially designed questionnaire was designed to gather data from senior mental health nurses working in the mental health field in a sample of 12 countries from across Europe. RESULTS: Findings disclosed considerable disparity between countries in respect to nurse training, with few countries requiring a specialist nursing qualification to practice in the mental health field. There appears to be little homogeneity in terms of educational provision pre and post-qualification. CONCLUSIONS: More research is needed into how European states deliver nurse training and education, how students are prepared for various practice settings and the effect on outcomes for service users of different models of training.

Clinical Competence↗

PubMed2006

Implementing holistic practices in mental health nursing: a national consultation.

BACKGROUND: A national consultation exercise was held as part of a review of mental health nursing in England. OBJECTIVES: To gather views as to how best to develop mental health nursing to support a holistic approach to care, taking into account psychological, physical social and spiritual needs. DESIGN: National open consultation by email over a 3-month period. PARTICIPANTS: 326 written replies were received. The largest group of responses was from National Health Service (NHS) organisations (n=92, 28.2%); 69.9% of responses were from groups or organisations (n=225). METHODS: A consultation document was devised by a national reference group, including four questions relating to the development of practice in the four domains of: psychological, physical, social and spiritual care. RESULTS: The majority of responses supported mental health nurses (MHNs) providing psychological therapies (n=271, 95.1%). To support this happening, responders most frequently described a need for appropriate specialist training post-registration (n=114). To improve physical well-being of service users, the most frequent suggestion was that MHNs should promote healthy lifestyles, e.g. by encouraging physical activity and advising on ways to reduce illicit drug, alcohol and tobacco use (n=152). Responders most frequently cited the need for MHNs to understand resources to support social inclusion (n=110), e.g. knowing how to access local resources, benefits, housing and employment advice. MHNs were most frequently seen as requiring appropriate training to help them support spiritual/religious needs (n=96). CONCLUSIONS: The consultation was successful in obtaining views, in particular, of organisations and groups. These subsequently influenced national recommendations made by the Chief Nursing Officer's Review of Mental Health Nursing.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2006

Asylum nursing as a career in the United Kingdom, 1890-1910.

BACKGROUND: Nursing staff in lunatic asylums provided the day-to-day care and containment of patients and were the direct occupational ancestors of today's mental health nurses. AIM: This study explores (1) How was asylum nursing seen by asylum nurses themselves and by others, particularly other healthcare workers? (2) What were the demographic characteristics of those who became asylum nurses and what were their patterns of employment? METHODS: Information regarding contemporary views of asylum nursing were gathered through searching a range of contemporary journals and other publications. Statistical information regarding patterns of employment was gathered from asylum records and census data. FINDINGS: During the period from 1890 to 1910 the image of asylum nursing was poor. Allegations of brutality continued to effect its image, despite claims by asylum nurses and medical superintendents that such generalizations were unfair and that asylum nursing was at least as valuable as any other from of nursing. The middle class leadership of voluntary hospital general nursing was particularly critical. At the Three Counties Asylum in Southern England, the majority of asylum nurses came from unskilled or semi-skilled backgrounds. 43% were recruited locally; 43% of nursing staff left after less than a year, and less than a quarter remained after 3 years. Even those individuals thought to be suitable by prior experience, such as ex-servicemen, often did not stay long. Dismissals were common, especially amongst male staff (22%). The discipline was hard, hours long and the work often unpleasant. CONCLUSIONS: For asylum nurses conditions were poor, the work difficult and their public image negative. The reality was that people from working class backgrounds entered asylum nursing at a relatively young age, often travelling some distance to do so, and then many only stayed for short periods. However, some women were able to take advantage of the possibilities offered by asylum work to develop a career for themselves in the absence of other opportunities.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Making my mark.

Neil Brimblecombe explains how his first research project was carried out by accident, and how he has come to learn why stubbornness and resilience are such important characteristics for the nurse researcher to possess.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗