Results from a survey of the work lives and wellbeing of the mental health nursing workforce
Results from a survey of the work lives and wellbeing of the mental health nursing workforce
Background:
Nurses are fundamental to the effective and safe delivery of mental health services, yet vacancy rates remain high. To address issues around recruiting and retaining this workforce, we must engage with nurses to understand what modifiable workplace factors impact the quality of work life for nurses providing mental health care and how their work lives and well-being may be improved.
Method:
An anonymous online cross-sectional survey collected data between October 2023 and January 2024. Participants were registered nurses working in any mental health setting for any provider in the UK recruited through clinical and practitioner networks, conferences, social media, and adverts at NHS Trusts. The survey was designed for this study focusing on: 1) the role of nurses and their teams; 2) organisational culture and context, 3) nurses’ views on care quality, 4) nurses needs, and 5) professional quality of life (ProQOL Health) and Burnout (Burnout Assessment Tool-12).
Results:
We received 999 eligible responses. Overall, 81% of participants were female, 93% were Registered Mental Health Nurses, and 92% were working in the NHS. A high proportion (39%) expressed dissatisfaction with their job. 27% were at risk of, and 22%, were at high risk of, burnout. Caseload, employment setting and job role were found to vary considerably, highlighting the diversity of job roles in mental health nursing. Results explore whether modifiable workplace factors such as staffing levels, teamwork, visibility of senior management, administrative support, and flexible working are associated with wellbeing or adverse work experiences.
Discussion/Conclusion:
This study provides insight into the daily rewards and challenges of mental health nursing. The findings can inform those developing and implementing workplace policies and interventions aimed at supporting registered mental health retention, recruitment, and wellbeing.
Mental Health Nurses, Quality of Work life, Wellbeing, Job satisfaction, turnover intention
Klepacz, Naomi
31061121-a4ac-4a6b-a110-bcc6afd554fd
Griffiths, Peter
ac7afec1-7d72-4b83-b016-3a43e245265b
Baldwin, David
1beaa192-0ef1-4914-897a-3a49fc2ed15e
Simons, Gemma
fd1eb2bd-23d4-42a8-899b-5eeb5ad62b9c
Ball, Jane
85ac7d7a-b21e-42fd-858b-78d263c559c1
12 September 2024
Klepacz, Naomi
31061121-a4ac-4a6b-a110-bcc6afd554fd
Griffiths, Peter
ac7afec1-7d72-4b83-b016-3a43e245265b
Baldwin, David
1beaa192-0ef1-4914-897a-3a49fc2ed15e
Simons, Gemma
fd1eb2bd-23d4-42a8-899b-5eeb5ad62b9c
Ball, Jane
85ac7d7a-b21e-42fd-858b-78d263c559c1
Klepacz, Naomi, Griffiths, Peter, Baldwin, David, Simons, Gemma and Ball, Jane
(2024)
Results from a survey of the work lives and wellbeing of the mental health nursing workforce.
RCN International Research Conference, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
10 - 12 Sep 2024.
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
Background:
Nurses are fundamental to the effective and safe delivery of mental health services, yet vacancy rates remain high. To address issues around recruiting and retaining this workforce, we must engage with nurses to understand what modifiable workplace factors impact the quality of work life for nurses providing mental health care and how their work lives and well-being may be improved.
Method:
An anonymous online cross-sectional survey collected data between October 2023 and January 2024. Participants were registered nurses working in any mental health setting for any provider in the UK recruited through clinical and practitioner networks, conferences, social media, and adverts at NHS Trusts. The survey was designed for this study focusing on: 1) the role of nurses and their teams; 2) organisational culture and context, 3) nurses’ views on care quality, 4) nurses needs, and 5) professional quality of life (ProQOL Health) and Burnout (Burnout Assessment Tool-12).
Results:
We received 999 eligible responses. Overall, 81% of participants were female, 93% were Registered Mental Health Nurses, and 92% were working in the NHS. A high proportion (39%) expressed dissatisfaction with their job. 27% were at risk of, and 22%, were at high risk of, burnout. Caseload, employment setting and job role were found to vary considerably, highlighting the diversity of job roles in mental health nursing. Results explore whether modifiable workplace factors such as staffing levels, teamwork, visibility of senior management, administrative support, and flexible working are associated with wellbeing or adverse work experiences.
Discussion/Conclusion:
This study provides insight into the daily rewards and challenges of mental health nursing. The findings can inform those developing and implementing workplace policies and interventions aimed at supporting registered mental health retention, recruitment, and wellbeing.
This record has no associated files available for download.
More information
Published date: 12 September 2024
Venue - Dates:
RCN International Research Conference, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom, 2024-09-10 - 2024-09-12
Keywords:
Mental Health Nurses, Quality of Work life, Wellbeing, Job satisfaction, turnover intention
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 495543
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/495543
PURE UUID: 740960e0-c894-4395-9cda-6c3d1cce2b9a
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 15 Nov 2024 17:57
Last modified: 16 Nov 2024 03:04
Export record
Contributors
Author:
Naomi Klepacz
Author:
Gemma Simons
Author:
Jane Ball
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics