Vocational and Educational Training in Family and Community Nursing as a European Priority: The ENhANCE Erasmus+ Project. Aspects for Mental Health Care

Family and Community Nurses have become central to the evolving model of Primary Health Care in Europe, where an increasing proportion of care pathways are delivered outside hospital settings. Evidence from the World Health Organization and recent EU reports highlights their essential contribution to health promotion, disease prevention and the provision of continuous, patient centred support for individuals, families and communities. Research on community mental health services has shown that structured nursing interventions delivered by Family and Community Nurses can reduce relapses and hospital admissions among people living with chronic mental health disorders, which aligns with broader efforts to improve continuity of care and optimise resource allocation (World Health Organization, 2018). The ENhANCE Erasmus+ Project was developed to address disparities between the competencies currently acquired by nurses in Primary Health Care and those required by emerging service models. The project established a European Professional Profile for Family and Community Nurses, designed a corresponding curriculum and developed implementation guidelines to support national adaptation by training providers. Additional outputs include teacher training pathways, an online platform for case based learning and three pilot curricula tested across partner countries. Findings from an e Delphi study conducted within the project identified twenty eight core competencies necessary for high quality community nursing, several of which directly support community based mental health care. These outcomes provide a foundation for strengthening workforce preparation in line with contemporary Primary Health Care needs.