Evaluation of the mental health nurse incentive program
5.8 Workforce
Table of contents
5.8.1 Impacts on medical practitioners
An anticipated flow-on effect of the MHNIP was that it would:.....help alleviate pressure on privately practicing psychiatrists and GPs, allowing them increased time to see more patients and deal with patients with complex health care needs.....21
There was consensus amongst medical practitioners surveyed that MHNIP increased their time to see patients and deal with more complex health care needs. Table 5.23 shows almost 90% supported strongly agreed or agreed with this statement.
"[MHNIP] enables me to see more patients. When the mental health nurse goes on leave I can't get home until two or more hours later"
GP, Medicare Local, rural Victoria
The impact of MHNIP on medical practitioner workload reported during case study interviews revealed similar sentiments. Other benefits for medical practitioner included:
- improved efficiency of their patient throughput;
- reduced stress levels; and
- increased confidence to manage patients with a severe mental illness and their medications.
Table 5.23: Assessing impact of MHNIP on medical practitioner's time to see patients and deal with complex health care needs - the views of participating medical practitioners
| Response | No. of responses | % |
|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 109 | 57.1 |
| Agree | 59 | 30.9 |
| Neither agree not disagree | 14 | 7.3 |
| Disagree | 3 | 1.6 |
| Strongly disagree | 6 | 3.1 |
| Total | 191 | 100 |
(Source: medical practitioner survey)
Top of page5.8.2 Impact on mental health nurse role and career structure
Another anticipated flow-on effect of MHNIP was that it would:...expand the roles and responsibilities for community based mental health nurses....21
The majority of mental health nurses in their survey responses reported that the MHNIP had expanded their role and responsibility. Table 5.24 reveals over 90% either strongly agreed or agreed with this view.
The survey also sought mental health nurse views on whether MHNIP had created an alternative career structure in the primary care sector. This view was supported by 84.0% of respondents.
"[MHNIP provides] greater autonomy and flexibility that employment in the public sector cannot offer for mental health nurses"
Mental health nurse, private psychiatry practice, rural New South Wales
"A MHNIP mental health nurse position is something to aspire to. It's not for a new practitioner. You need credentialing, experience and confidence in your practice. It is good for clinical work, not a management position. Not good for people looking to further their career as there is no where for growth."
Mental health nurse, general practice, metropolitan Queensland
Detailed finding #21: MHNIP has enabled an expansion in the roles and responsibilities of mental health nurses in the primary health sector.
Table 5.24: Mental health nurse view of whether MHNIP had expanded their role and responsibility - the views of participating mental health nurses
| Response | No. of responses | % |
|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 157 | 58.6 |
| Agree | 86 | 32.1 |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 22 | 8.2 |
| Disagree | 2 | 0.7 |
| Strongly disagree | 1 | 0.4 |
| Total | 268 | 100 |
(Source: mental health nurse survey)
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