A senior North Wales nurse is encouraging more people to consider a ‘hugely rewarding’ career in mental health nursing.
To mark the second annual Mental Health Nurses’ Day on February 21st, Steve Forsyth, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Director of Nursing for Mental Health & Learning Disabilities, wants to encourage more people to join the profession.
Like NHS organisations across the UK, BCUHB has a shortage of mental health nurses, with around 20 per cent of vacancies unfilled.
Steve, who is himself an experienced mental health nurse with more than twenty years’ experience, says the profession is “more than just a job”, describing it as “a way of life, an adventure and a privilege”.
He said: “We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people to join our teams. There are so many diverse opportunities across the region in inpatient settings and our community teams. These include working with people with mental health problems, learning disabilities, addiction and eating disorders.
“There are real opportunities for people to progress throughout their career and we offer a supportive environment which enables our nurses to continuously improve their skills and knowledge.
“The privilege of being a mental health nurse means that I’d do my twenty plus years again in a heartbeat.”
To mark Mental Health Nurses’ Day, other mental health nurses across the region have been sharing what makes the profession so special.
Sophie Collenette from the Ynys Mon Community Mental Health Team qualified as a mental health nurse two years ago, having been inspired to join the profession by the care a family member received.
She said: “What makes the job so special is building those therapeutic relationships with people so they feel comfortable opening up. Being able to make a difference in somebody’s life is incredibly rewarding.”
Her colleague, Natasha Bach, who has been a mental health nurse for more than ten years, added: “I love meeting new people and enjoy supporting them through difficult times in their life and showing them that there is a way forward. It’s a challenging role where no two days are the same, and the work is incredibly rewarding.”
Poppi-Drew Hughes qualified as a mental health nurse in October 2019 and now works at the Ty Llywelyn Medium Secure Unit at Bryn y Neuadd Hospital, Llanfairfechan.
Staff at the 25 bedded purpose built hospital provide treatment and rehabilitation for people with serious mental health problems who have come into contact with criminal justice services.
Poppi said: “You hear of a medium secure unit and you see high security fences and it can seem daunting from the outside, but it’s one of the safest environments to work in and we’re so well supported.
“It’s not like in a general hospital where someone might have a broken bone and you put a cast on and off you go. We have the time to get to know people and their background, and develop therapeutic relationships with them.”
Mental Health Nurses’ Day is an annual celebration to promote and celebrate the work of mental health nurses across the United Kingdom. It forms part of BCUHB’s wider celebrations to mark the World Health Organisation designating 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.
Mental Health Nursing degree courses are delivered by Bangor University, with students able to study at campuses in Bangor or Wrexham.
Unlike in England, people studying at Welsh Universities qualify for the NHS Wales nursing bursary, which means that fees are paid and living cost contributions may be available.
The Welsh Government have confirmed that the scheme will be extended to nurses beginning their studies in the 2020-21 academic year.
For further details of Bangor University’s Mental Health Nursing course, please visit: https://www.bangor.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/B762-Mental-Health-Nursing
