Opportunities for the advanced practice nurse in improving the wellbeing of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression have increased during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic across age groups. Older adults may additionally be experiencing accelerated cognitive decline and increased behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia related to the pandemic and associated isolation precautions. The advanced practice nurse has an opportunity to holistically intervene to mitigate the negative effects of isolation and promote older adults' wellbeing during challenging times.

Lessons Learned From a Mental Health Hospital: Managing COVID-19.

Congregate settings such as psychiatric units have an increased risk of disease transmission because of the milieu setting and the inability to isolate patients. Interventions to prevent infection and cross-contamination are discussed including monitoring of patient temperatures, personal protective equipment, remote care, monitoring of human resources, and reinforcement of infection prevention strategies. We discuss the effectiveness of those interventions and the lessons learned, including implications for psychiatric clinical care, during future pandemics or a next wave of COVID-19.

The psychotherapeutic practice and potential of mental health nurses: an Australian survey.

Objective Mental health nurses (MHNs) have a long, under-recognised, history of engaging in psychotherapeutic practice across the spectrum of mental illness and mental health problems. There is a need for a psychotherapeutic response for people with complex or serious mental health problems within the stepped care model and in response to increased need for psychotherapeutic responses to COVID-19 and natural disasters. This project sought to identify the educational preparation and self-reported competency of MHNs to clinically undertake psychotherapy across the continuum of care. Methods Situated within a larger mixed-methods study exploring how MHNs practice psychotherapy, adapt it to routine care and envisage the future, this paper reports the findings from a survey of MHNs regarding their educational preparation, experience and competence in modalities of psychotherapy and the application of psychotherapy with specific clinical groups. Results In all, 153 MHNs responded to a request to participate in the study. In this cohort, 86% of nurses had postgraduate qualifications specific to psychotherapy and 95% had worked for over 10 years in the mental health field and had hundreds of hours of training in psychotherapy. There was a high level of self-reported competence in working with people with serious mental health problems and at-risk or vulnerable groups. Conclusions Currently, MHNs are not recognised in federal funding arrangements to procure psychotherapeutic intervention for members of the Australian population who require it. MHNs ought to be recognised as independent providers based on both the psychotherapeutic skills they possess and their specialist clinical skills of working with people across the spectrum of mental health problems. Appropriately qualified MHNs need to be funded to use their skills in psychotherapy via access to appropriate funding arrangements, such as Better Access and the National Disability Insurance Scheme. What is known about the topic? MHNs do not appear to be recognised as having postgraduate knowledge and skills in psychotherapy and other psychotherapeutic interventions. This lack of recognition has resulted in the Australian public being unable to access subsidised specialist psychotherapeutic services by this highly experienced group. Most published commentary has been around the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program, but, to date, scholarly work related to this program has not influenced public views and policy formation despite multiple favourable evaluations. What does this paper add? This study highlights that MHNs possess a largely unrecognised and valuable skill set in psychotherapy practice that they can adapt to work with people with complex needs. What are the implications to practitioners? MHNs possess skills and experience that, if recognised and funded, could be rapidly mobilised to improve consumer outcomes across the continuum of stepped care and in response to increased need during COVID-19.

Effect of advanced nursing care on psychological disorder in patients with COVID-19: A protocol of systematic review.

BACKGROUND: This study will explore the effect of advanced nursing care (ANC) on psychological disorder (PD) in patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: This study will search the following electronic databases up to June 30, 2020: Cochrane Library, PUBMED, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, OpenGrey, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, CNKI, and WANGFANG. We will not impose any language limitations. Two authors will independently identify titles/abstracts and full-text of all potential studies, and will collect data from eligible studies. Additionally, study quality will be assessed by Cochrane risk of bias. If necessary, we will conduct meta-analysis if sufficient trials are included. RESULTS: This study will explore the effect of ANC on PD in patients with COVID-19 through outcome indicators. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study may supply summarized evidence of ANC for the management of PD in COVID-19. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42020187610.