Putting new therapeutic communication skills into public health nursing practice: the student experience

Specialist community public health nurses (SCPHNs)—who provide universal health promoting services to all families with children in the 0–19 age range—are particularly well placed to influence lifestyle-related health behaviours at an early stage. To undertake this work effectively a toolkit of health promotion strategies is required. This paper reports the findings of a small study which aimed to examine student perspectives about if, and how, education in behaviour change skills impacts on the nature and effectiveness of consultations with clients. It was undertaken at a university in the north of England which has pioneered the teaching of motivational interviewing and behaviour change skills within the SCPHN curriculum. The study took place in 2017. Focus groups, attended by 11 SCPHN students examined students' views and perspectives about engaging with clients and utilising behaviour change skills in practice. Key themes arising from the data were: changing approach, skills and techniques, education and learning, use in practice, and time. Findings indicate that SCPHN students had begun to apply an approach based on Motivational Interviewing to consultations in practice as a result of their education. This is likely to have a substantial impact on practice and client outcomes.