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Accessible summary What is known on the subject? Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is an effective model of brief psychotherapy., Evidence suggests that nurses can be trained to deliver SFBT with only a few days training., It has been argued that SFBT reflects the core values of nursing practice, but no empirical research has been undertaken to validate this assertion., What does this paper add to existing knowledge? This is the first time the impact of such training on nurses' sense of professional and personal identity has been explored., Drawing upon data derived from twenty interviews, this paper explores the key themes reported by nurses in relation to their personal experience of training in SFBT., This paper extends our understanding of the lived experience of mental health nurses and facilitates discussion on the preparation and practice of their role., What are the implications for practice? Training in SFBT can provide a framework for nurses to empower their clients/patients to take control of their own recovery in a shared and trusting relationship., Training in SFBT can enhance nurses' sense of trust in their clients., Training in solution-focused interactions may provide a framework for many nurses to provide the type of collaborative, patient-led care they aspire to., Abstract Introduction SFBT is a psychotherapeutic model that aims to 'build solutions' rather than 'solve problems'. It has evolved into a structured communication framework utilized across a range of disciplines, focusing on the future, as opposed to the past, and on participant's strengths and abilities, as opposed to their problems and deficits. There have been no studies exploring the experience of training in SFBT from the perspective of the nurses being trained. Aim This study sought to explore the experience of nurses who had completed a six-month training course in SFBT. Methods Using a qualitative methodology, 20 nurses who had undertaken SFBT training were interviewed at various locations across Scotland. Results Five main themes emerged from analysis of the 20 interviews. Many of the participants reported increased trust in their clients and enhanced role satisfaction. Implications for Practice Training in SFBT provides nurses with an alternative model of practice to the dominant 'medical' and 'psychological' models of contemporary practice. The experiences of the participants in this study suggest that SFBT can be a useful intervention in nursing practice and that nurses can easily incorporate SFBT into their practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A major difficulty identified many years ago in psychiatric care is the shortage of appropriate instruments with which to carry out valid and reliable therapeutic assessments which are behaviourally based and therefore appropriate for use in a variety of contexts. The aim of this project was to ascertain the utility of a forensic nursing risk assessment tool - Behavioural Status Index (BEST-Index). The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach: A multi-site cross-sectional survey was undertaken using mixed method design. Quantitative data was generated using BEST-Index to allow comparisons across three different levels of security (high, medium and low) in Scotland and Ireland. Qualitative data were gathered from patients and multi-disciplinary team (MDT) members using semi-structured interviews and questionnaire. Findings: Measured over an 18-month period, there was a statistically significant improvement in behaviour, when comparing patients in high and medium secure hospitals. Two key themes emerged from patient and staff perspectives: "acceptance of the process" and "production and delivery of information", respectively. The wider MDT acknowledge the value of nursing risk assessment, but require adequate information to enable them to interpret findings. Collaborating with patients to undertake risk assessments can enhance future care planning. Research limitations/implications: Studies using cross-section can only provide information at fixed points in time. Practical implications: The BEST-Index assessment tool is well established in clinical practice and has demonstrated good utility. Originality/value: This project has served to highlight the unique contribution of BEST-Index to both staff and patients alike and confirm its robustness and versatility across differing levels of security in Scottish and Irish forensic mental health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic settings are seen to be an ideal, although potentially privileged, environments in which to demonstrate meaningful and authentic involvement. Despite the lack of evaluation and evidence relating to the impact of involvement being noted in the early 2000's, there continues to be a lack of evaluative research in this area (Happell et al., 2014) with the examination of the carers perspective being even more limited. This paper presents qualitative findings emerging from an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) carried out on transcripts from five individual semi-structured interviews with family carers who contribute to the Bachelor of Nursing (Mental Health) programme at Edinburgh Napier University. The study sets out to explore the perceptions family carers have relating to their involvement in nurse education. Findings are themed and offer insights into why family carers become involved in educating nurses, the impact they perceive this involvement has on students and themselves and the meaning they make of the feedback they receive. Drawing on these themes and narratives provides opportunities to understand the motivation and drive carers have to improve health and social care services for carers and for people who use services while offering knowledge about how carers perceive and evaluate the impact of their contributions. Conclusions made relate to the value of involvement and how connecting with students thought out their programme of study builds rapport and meaningful, authentic partnerships. However, the strategic planning and continued investment in co-production as well as a deeper understanding of the complex relationship students and carers have is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute psychiatric inpatient care forms an integral part of mental health services. Few studies have focussed on the patient experience of acute care. Research into patient experience is increasingly important to policy and service development processes. Knowledge of patient experiences facilitates the development of nursing practice. The aim of the study was to gain insight into the experience of being a patient on an acute inpatient psychiatric ward. Thirteen participants were recruited from the acute ward. Unstructured interviews were used to gather narrative data of their experiences. Holistic analysis of the narratives was informed by Gee's socio-linguistic theories that meaning is linked to narrative structure. Reading of the holistic analyses yielded themes of help, safety and power running across the participants' experiences. The patient experience was characterized by dissonance between expectation and experience, the search for a nurse--patient relationship and the development of strategies to cope with being on the acute ward. This paper focuses on the theme of 'Help' where participants describe their expectation that they will receive help through the development of relationships with the nurses, and their experience of the barriers to this. In response, participants developed strategies to support each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: To evaluate and explore mental health nurses' responses to and experience of an educational intervention to improve attitudes towards people with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Report findings are concordant with relevant EQUATOR guidelines (STROBE and COREQ). Background: Attitudes towards people with a diagnosis of BPD are poorer than for people with other diagnoses. There is limited evidence about what might improve this situation. One intervention with reportedly good effect uses an underlying biosocial model of BPD. No previous intervention has been co‐produced with an expert by experience. We developed and delivered a 1‐day intervention comprising these elements. Design: A mixed‐methods design was used comprising prospective within‐subjects cohort intervention and qualitative elements. Participants were mental health nursing staff working in inpatient and community settings in one NHS Board in Scotland, UK. Methods: Measurement of cognitive and emotional attitudes to people with a diagnosis of BPD at pre‐ and postintervention (N = 28) and at 4‐month follow‐up. Focus groups were used to explore participants' experiences of the intervention (N = 11). Results: Quantitative evaluation revealed some sustained changes consistent with expected attitudinal gains in relation to the perceived treatment characteristics of this group, the perception of their suicidal tendencies and negative attitudes in general. Qualitative findings revealed some hostility towards the underpinning biosocial model and positive appreciation for the involvement of an expert by experience. Conclusions: Sustained benefits of an educational intervention for people working with people diagnosed with BPD in some but not all areas. Participants provided contrasting messages about what they think will be useful. Relevance to clinical practice: The study provides further evidence for incorporation of a biosocial model into staff training as well as the benefits of expert by experience co‐production. Mental health nurses, however, believe that more well‐resourced services are the key to improving care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) trained mental health professionals seek non-mandatory accreditation with the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), despite self-regulation of talking therapies being a divisive issue. This raises the question: what views do CBT-trained mental health professionals have towards BABCP accreditation and what motivates them to become accredited? This qualitative study recruited seven postgraduate CBT-trained mental health professionals from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde during 2015. Individual semi-structured interviews were completed and verbatim transcripts produced. Thematic analysis revealed the value participants place on accreditation, and that an absence of motivating factors and barriers during the application process means that not all CBT therapists become accredited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Authors have generally reported that mental health nurses (MHNs) have positive attitudes to providing physical health care to service users with severe mental illness. In the present study, we aimed to explore if this positive attitude translates to enhanced clinical practice by interviewing MHNs and the service users they work with. Semistructured interviews were completed with 15 service users and 18 MHNs from acute, rehabilitation, and community services. These were then transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Six themes emerged: (i) not the work of MHNs; (ii) the physical effects of psychiatric drugs are ignored; (iii) the need to upskill; (iv) keeping busy; (v) horrible hospital food/living on takeaways; and (vi) motivation to change. Our overarching meta-theme was of unmet physical health need among service users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There have been significant concerns about the care and treatment of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) when attending general hospitals, which have led to inquiries that highlight service and systems failures. One response has been the development of Learning Disability Liaison Nursing (LDLN) Services across the UK that aim to ensure that additional, specialist support is available for patients, their carers and general healthcare professionals. Methods A mixed-methods study to investigate the impact of LDLN Services across four Scottish NHS boards was undertaken. In total, 323 referrals made over 18 months were analysed along with qualitative data drawn from interviews and focus groups with a sample of 85 participants including patients with ID ( n = 5), carers ( n = 16), primary care healthcare professionals ( n = 39) and general hospital professionals ( n = 19) and learning disability liaison nurses ( n = 6). Results The referral patterns to the four liaison nursing services closely matched the known health needs of adults with ID, with common admissions being due to neurological, respiratory and gastrointestinal issues. The LDLN role was seen to be complex and impacted on three key areas: (i) clinical patient care; (ii) education and practice development; and (iii) strategic organisational developments. Specific patient outcomes were linked to issues relating to capacity and consent to treatment, fostering person-centred adjustments to care, augmenting communication and the liaison nurses acting as positive role models and ambassadors for people with ID. Conclusions The LDLN Services were valued by stakeholders by achieving person-centred outcomes. With their expert knowledge and skills, the liaison nurses had an important role in developing effective systems and processes within general hospital settings. The outcomes highlight the importance of supporting and promoting LDLN Services and the challenges in delivering the multifaceted elements of the role. There is a need to take account of the complex and multidimensional nature of the LDLN role and the possible tensions between achieving clinical outcomes, education and practice developments and organisational strategic initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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