Phase 1 of a longitudinal study of mental health nurses' careers: Exploring relationships between profiles, course perceptions and plans to work in the NHS

Abstract

Although concern about attrition from the mental health nursing workforce is long-standing, little research exists to inform strategies for enhancing retention. This paper reports on plans to stay in the NHS held by newly qualified registered mental nurses, and the relationship of these plans to respondents' backgrounds and perceptions of the course. Data were obtained from questionnaires sent to 556 RMNs (Registered Mental Health Nurses), 80% of whom responded. Thirty-six per cent of the cohort planned to remain in mental health nursing in the NHS for the foreseeable future, 49% were uncertain in this respect and 13% intended to leave. The age range of the cohort was wide (20-52 years) and previous educational qualifications and employment experiences were diverse. Age was significantly associated with plans to stay in the NHS, with those in their late thirties most likely to remain. Adequacy of course preparation, explored for 13 aspects of nursing, revealed an average score of 8.5 for being well prepared, with a range from 0 to 13. Forty-nine per cent had found the course academically demanding, and 82% had found working as a nurse to be very or quite stressful. For each of 11 aspects of future careers, only a minority had received information. Greater adequacy of preparation was significantly associated with plans to stay. Subsequent phases of the study will demonstrate the extent to which age and adequacy of preparation are associated with retention over time.