Exploratory study of mental health consultation-liaison nursing in Australia: Part 2 preparation, support and role satisfaction

Abstract

Mental health Consultation-Liaison (CL) nursing continues to develop and gain recognition as a subspecialty of mental health nursing. CL roles are particularly important given the significant number of people experiencing mental illness and other mental health problems within the general health-care settings. However, despite the potential value of these roles, the literature provides little information about these roles and about the nurses who work in these roles. This is the second part of a two-part paper describing a survey of CL nurses in Australia. Part 1 describes demographic data and characteristics of the CL role. Part 2 provides an exploration of the following factors: educational preparation, support, and work satisfaction. The findings identified specific educational needs in preparation and ongoing support for the role. However, overall the participants expressed a high level of satisfaction with their work. Given the current recruitment problems in mental health nursing, the promotion of the CL nursing role might enhance a more positive view of this branch of nursing.