In the current mental health setting with the
focus on crisis care, planned interactions/interventions
such as counselling may be sacrificed to
manage practical day to day needs. Nurses
require training, education and clinical supervision
to increase confidence and competence in
the delivery of psychotherapy and counselling
interventions. The need to enhance nursing skills
was identified as important. Instrumental
support was viewed as essential, leading to
i n c reased confidence and competence.
Organisational commitment was a necessary prerequisite
for this to occur. Spending time with
patients was seen as valuable and considered to
be part of the ward ethos.