Mental health nurses' encounters with occupational health services

Abstract

Background Staffwell-being is vital to the functioning of the UK National Health Service (NHS). Mental health nurses (MHNs) with personal experience of mental illness can offer a professionally and personally informed insight into the occupational health (OH) service offered by their employer. Aims To investigate MHNs' views of OH provision in the NHS, based on their personal experience. Methods A qualitative interview study using a purposive sample of MHNs with personal experience of mental illness. Results Twenty-seven MHNs met the inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis identified three themes: comparisons of 'relative expertise' between the mental health nurse and the OH clinician; concerns about 'being treated' by a service at their work; and 'returning to work'. Conclusions OH provision in mental health settings must take account of the expertise of its staff. Further research, looking at NHS OH provision from the provider perspective is warranted.