Mental health nursing Australia
 

I have almost finished my bachelor of nursing and would like some advice from any MHN out there

I have an interview for a mental health new grad position at my local hospital and would love to know what kind of questions I am likely to be asked.
Kind of expecting the normal why do want to be a nurse?, infection control, conflict resolution, medication errors and a priority of care scenario as would be asked in the clinical setting but wondered if there are any specific MH questions.
Also, unlike the UK where I would have specialised in mental health, in Australia I have had to become an RN first. So with limited class and MH practical experience I just can`t see myself getting work on a mental health ward without a grad position.
So If I miss out on this new grad position it may be a case of working in aged care or casual through an agency while I complete post grad mental health units in the hope that a year or so down the line I may have the required experience. The reason I started my degree was to work in mental health so now I am coming to the end it`s a bit disheartening to think that I may still be 2 years away...any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated because at the minute it feels like all my eggs are in one basket .......plus it`s my first proper interview in about 20 years, so I`m bricking it :)

Re: Mental health nursing Australia
 

As you said, the clinical questions should be fine. Just remember why you want to be a mental health nurse and I'm sure your passion for this field will come across. It's fine to be nervous as long as you are confident in what you are saying xx Good luck xx

Re: Mental health nursing Australia
 

I would think there will be questions around ''recovery'' and your approach to that concept, as that is the focus of mental health nursing at the moment. Hope, recovery, resilience and strengthening of skills rather than focus on deficits and the labelling of the medical model. Display a knowledge of psychosocial interventions.
Good luck.
There are a lot of general trained nurses in my local area in QLD working in acute mental health units, with no mental health nurse training whatsoever. It is a bone of contention here.

Re: Mental health nursing Australia
 

thanks for the info guys, ended up been mostly basic clinical scenarios (S8 meds, time management, infection control and multidisciplinary team work)but my knowledge of the recovery model of health and psychosocial interventions certainly went down well....thanks for the heads up :)