The growth of a new Mental Health Department

Abstract

Guest editorial by Martin Ward. January 2004 was a difficult time for mental health nursing within the then Institute of Health Care. Already one semester late in starting the new B.Sc. conversion course for general nurses working in mental health care, it had no curriculum, no lecturers, no release mechanism from the practice areas, no clinical supervision and no recognised method of evaluating practice competencies. In short, it did not exist and 33 students were frustrated, waiting for it to start. In addition, both the second year general Nursing diploma and degree student groups were expecting to receive theoretical and practice study units to meet their registration requirements. Martin Ward and Josanne Drago Bason were appointed in different capacities to develop, manage and deliver all of the above, and had just 21 days to begin. The development, support and delivery of these courses took a great deal of time and expertise, not least from the “team”, past and present, whose commitment and dedication made it all possible. Many other people have contributed to the growth of this department from its humble beginnings and, undoubtedly, there will be many more in the future