Predictors of nurse support for the introduction of the cardiometabolic health nurse in the Australian mental health sector

PURPOSE: A cardiometabolic specialist nursing role could potentially improve physical health of people with serious mental illness. DESIGN AND METHODS: A national survey of Australian nurses working in mental health settings investigated predictors of support for the role. FINDINGS: Predictors included belief in physical healthcare neglect, interest in training; higher perceived value of improving physical health care. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The findings suggest that nurses see the cardiometabolic health nurse role as a promising initiative for closing gaps in cardiometabolic health care and skilling other nurses in mental health. However, as the majority of variance in cardiometabolic health nurse support was unexplained, more research is urgently needed on factors that explain differences in cardiometabolic health nurse endorsement.