Nurses' career choice and satisfaction with mental health transition-to-practice programs: A cross sectional study.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Globally, there are consistent issues recruiting staff into the mental health nursing workforce. In Australia, recent efforts to expand the workforce include recruitment of a wider range of nurses in addition to new graduates into mental health transition-to-practice programs. Understanding the career motivations of nurses entering the field is an important element of recruitment and retention. To describe nurses' satisfaction with their mental health transition program and identify factors influencing their choice of mental health as a career. An online cross-sectional survey with questions on program satisfaction and career choice was responded to by n = 55 enrolled and registered nurses in a mental health transition program. Nurses reported overall high satisfaction with their program and identified increased time release for professional development and being supernumerary as necessary to support role development. Almost 25% of nurses reported personal experience of mental illness as an influence in choosing a mental health career. Mental health transition programs are important in recruitment and retention and need to be tailored to the needs of a wide range of nurses and include support for staff wellbeing. Tailored transition programs can help strengthen role clarity, and support staff retention.