ABSTRACT
The most common site for accessing mental health care is the primary care setting. Yet, primary care nurses are not adequately prepared to treat the complex mental health needs of these patients. Similarly, providers in segregated mental health sites do not adequately address physical health needs. New educational models are needed to better prepare nursing graduates to provide holistic care. The integrated mental health model, which colocates mental health specialists in primary care sites, is designed to do this. This article describes key curricular elements of a successful interprofessional clinical rotation within an integrated mental health team that included the use of case studies, a standardized mental health screening instrument, a quality improvement process, and a patient satisfaction questionnaire. Family nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner students learned to collaborate with each other and with other members of the interprofessional team to provide holistic care.
Subject(s)
Clinical Competence , Education, Nursing, Graduate/organization & administration , Family Nursing , Nurse Practitioners , Primary Health Care , Psychiatric Nursing , Benchmarking , Cooperative Behavior , Curriculum , Faculty, Nursing/organization & administration , Family Nursing/organization & administration , Holistic Health , Humans , Mental Health Services/organization & administration , Models, Educational , Models, Nursing , Nurse Practitioners/education , Nurse Practitioners/organization & administration , Nurse Practitioners/psychology , Organizational Objectives , Patient Care Team/organization & administration , Patient Satisfaction , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Program Development , Program Evaluation , Psychiatric Nursing/education , Psychiatric Nursing/organization & administration , Total Quality Management/organization & administrationABSTRACT
Accurate information is needed to facilitate health equity in underserved communities. This community-based participatory study asked residents about the meaning of mental health, their perceptions of community mental health needs, barriers to accessing mental health care, and acceptability of mental health services that are integrated in primary health clinics. Forty-five primarily African-American residents from urban communities participated in focus groups. Findings revealed high prevalence of substance abuse, depression, crime, and stigma about mental illness, with multiple access barriers. Participants were receptive to mental health care integrated in primary care, if others did not know they were receiving mental health care.
