Exploring the experience and knowledge of Paediatric Nurses caring for CYP with

mental health conditions

Akila Mandjiny, Staff nurse, James Paget University Hospital, Great Yarmouth, UK Akila.Mandjiny@jpaget.nhs.uk

INTRODUCTION: RESULTS: DISCUSSION:

Probable mental disorder for children living in England has Results indicate that staff felt extremely challenged and
TABLE 1: Job Role and location of survey respondents n=50
increased over the last five years from 12.1% to 18.0% in overwhelmed when caring for CYP with mental health conditions.
JOB TITLE Paediatric A&E Rotation (between Ward 10 Grand Total
children aged 7-16 years; and from 10.1% to 25.7% in young ward 10 and Staff felt they do not have enough training and struggled to
people aged 17-19 years (1). Various factors including broken paediatric A&E) establish communication with their patients. Staff also felt that the
HCA 1 1
family structure, poverty, physical and sexual abuse, bullying paediatric ward is not an appropriate ward to care for them. A
Newly qualified registered 2 2 6 10
and social medias affects mental health. This may result in nurse (up to one year) similar study in the Republic of Ireland revealed that 67% of nurses
children and young people (CYP) being admitted to hospitals Nursery Nurse 4 5 9 were dissatisfied in nursing CYP with mental health conditions in
Paediatric matron 1 1
with depression, self-harm, eating disorders, overdose etc. It is Play nurse 1 1
the general paediatric ward and 68% nurses had inadequate
not uncommon for a third of the JPUH paediatric ward beds to Sister 1 1 2 4 training.(2) Higson et al. have shown that a one-day “bespoke”
be occupied with CYP with mental health conditions. This Staff Nurse 3 6 10 19 training course has improved the confidence and knowledge of
Student nurse 1 2 3
creates a huge impact on the ward’s normal routine. The Ward Manager 1 1
nurses in caring these patients at one UK hospital.(3) The “We Can
paediatric ward is not the ideal environment to care for CYP Other 1 1 Talk” project funded by NHS England has positively impacted staff’s
with mental health conditions and the paediatric nurses are not Grand Total 11 11 28 50 confidence level in caring CYP with mental health conditions.(4)
specialists in mental health care. These sub optimal Therefore, the current study suggests to conduct and continue
FIGURE 1: number of survey respondents who said they had received CYP mental health training
circumstances affect not only the CYPs being treated for mental trainings such as “We Can Talk” and “bespoke” to support the
health conditions but other children admitted in the ward and nurses in caring CYP with mental health conditions.
there is also an impact on the well-being of the ward care staff. Limitations of the study include the convenience sampling
This study explores the challenges, difficulties and the needs of 26% technique where data was not collected from all nurses but still
nurses caring for CYP with mental health conditions. 65.8% of nurses shared their experiences.
2% RECOMMENDATIONS:
AIM: 72% Considering the safety and wellbeing of the whole ward, ward 10 is
The primary aim is to explore the experiences of care staff not an ideal environment to nurse CYP with mental health
working with CYP and determine their existing knowledge in conditions. Neither the paediatric nurses are trained to provide
No Unsure Yes
caring for CYP with mental health conditions. care to mental health CYP nor the ward is equipped for mental
METHOD: health children. I recommend the delivery of training such as “We
Staff said… Can Talk” and “bespoke” to support nurses in caring for CYP with
Service Evaluation project mental health conditions.
“Saying the wrong thing and getting the

FIGURE 2: Concerns from the nurses

patient upset. Unable to monitor their
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Structured questionnaires were shared to all JPUH staff moods changes when it is busy on the
ward. Getting hurt or them hurting
Study supported by NMAHP scholarship team, Jacky Copping, Lisa
working in paediatric ward and in paediatric A&E. Survey was other patients/ staff members.” SR35
King, Tabitha Tidder, Entire Paediatric team
sent by email using MS Forms. Paper survey forms were
REFERENCES:
available to those who could not access their emails.
1. https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mental-health-of-children-and-
young-people-in-england/2022-follow-up-to-the-2017-survey. [ last accessed 2023 Mar 08].
2. Buckley S. Caring for those with mental health conditions on a children’s ward. Br J Nurs.
“It has been extremely challenging
and at times has felt overwhelming
2010;19(19):1226-30. Doi: 10.12968/bjon.2010.19.19.79303.
The surveys provided quantitative data which has as did not feel experienced/qualified 3. Higson J, Emery A, Jenkins M. Improving children’s nurses’ knowledge of caring for people with
mental health problems. Nursing Children and Young People. 29,1,25-29. Doi:
been analysed descriptively using percentages and to support” SR34
10.7748/ncyp.2017.e785.
integers and qualitative data which was thematically 4. https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/medicine-health-and-social-care/nursing-midwifery-social-work/child-
analysed. nursing/paediatric-mental-health-nurse-perspective.aspx. [ last accessed 2023 Mar 08].