Mental Health and Addiction Credential in Primary Care Evaluation Report

Summary

This report is an evaluation of a demonstration coordinated by Health Workforce New Zealand. The credential aims to recognise and boost the skills and knowledge of registered nurses who work with patients with mental health and addiction needs.

This evaluation report finds credentialing:

• improves the competence and confidence of primary care nurses working with patients with mental health and addiction issues
• aids understanding of the integration of physical and mental health
• encourages closer collaboration with secondary care and community practitioners.

Barriers for wider implementation include:

• limited understanding of the value credentialing can add to staff competency
• difficulty obtaining release time for nurses to attend education and training
• lack of available education resources.