How can mental health nurses prove they are culturally safe?

Historically, nurses have been required to be culturally safe in their practice. (1,2) But now all registered nurses (RNs) must show competency within their scope of practice, including evidence of competence in culturally safe practice. (3) At first, this requirement may appear challenging for nurses working in mental health, given that practice in this area sometimes requires nursing people against their will, or where personal freedoms are temporarily restricted. While mental health practice does have some unique challenges, good mental health nursing practice actually exemplifies cultural safety. Likewise, cultural safety supports the articulation of good mental health nursing practice, and the description of good mental health nursing practice will likely meet the requirements of an audit of culturally safe practice. Some mental health nurses have expressed concern that in any audit they cannot articulate the true complexities of mental health nursing. However, we suggest good mental health nursing practice embraces cultural safety.