Background: The need to develop education programmes for mental health nurses that are responsive to the needs of key stakeholders is essential to ensuring that mental health nursing practices remain contemporary and consistent with national and international mental health policy. To this end, a group of mental health nursing faculty from seven European countries came together to develop transferable eLearning materials for Masters Levels mental health nursing students focusing on a three of key areas; 1)recovery and social inclusion, 2) mental health promotion and prevention and 3) working with families and caregivers. This poster provides details of how the European partners will conduct the first phase of the project which is consultation with the key stakeholders (MSc Students, senior and expert mental health nurses, family and carer organisations and mental health service users).

Aim and objectives: The aim of this project is to develop e-learning materials for Masters level mental health nursing education programmes based on the identified needs of key stakeholders.

Methods: This research follows an action research design and this first phase will involve consultation with key stake holders using a qualitative approach. Data will be collected in three phases: 1. One focus group will be conducted with current MSc in Mental Health Nursing Students. 2. The participants (MSc Students) involved in phase one will be required to return to their areas of practice and gather information from 2 senior and expert mental health nurses using a prepared data collection template. 3. The researchers will collect data from the family carer organisations and mental health service users using telephone interviews using a prepared data collection template. This process will be repeated in all the European universities involved and will form the basis for the eLearning content.

Analysis and Results: Data collection is due to start in December 2013.

Recommendations: This collaborative approach to postgraduate mental health nursing education will ensure that a consistent, contemporary and needs driven eLearning package will be developed.