Mental health nursing in the twenty-first century

This chapter examines the status of mental health nursing in the twenty-first century. It considers the context of mental health nursing; critique contemporary issues in practice, education, research and leadership and presents a vision for mental health nursing. Twenty-first-century concerns about mental health nursing education are focused on commissioned reviews of curricula content and delivery, delineating the required knowledge and performance criteria necessary for practice. Mental health nursing is an art, a science and a craft. It excels when mental health nurses work in collaboration with people using mental health services, their caregivers and representative agencies, as well as other mental health workers. Mental health nursing is driven by a values, culture and evidence-based, personalized care that embed an expectation of mental health nursing as a fundamental human right. Mental health nursing is helping individuals and communities transform their health and well-being.