The training and development workshops : promoting cultural change within mental health nursing

The inadequacy of training and professional development opportunities for mental health nurses is frequently discussed, yet surprisingly receives little attention in the literature. The Enterprise Bargaining Agreement of 2000, introduced a number of senior nursing positions for mental health, designed to address this issue. In responseto a need identified by the senior nurses, the Centre for Psychiatric Nursing Researchand Practice implemented the Training and Professional Development Workshops. This paper presents an evaluation of the first two workshops conducted. The finding ssuggest that participants (n=32) were highly satisfied with the content and delivery of the workshops, and most importantly consider this will make a significant contribution to the implementation and ongoing development of their newly established roles.