What is Mental Health Nursing?
As a qualified mental health nurse you will meet people from all walks of life. Mental illness is as common as heart disease, and three times as common as cancer. It touches men and women from every social background and age group. No one is immune. So, for example, as a mental health nurse you could be helping to care for and support: • a mother with severe post-natal depression • a young man facing the complexities of a mental illness such as schizophrenia • someone experiencing anxiety and panic attacks which prevent them from functioning normally The focus of all your work will be to help people achieve or maintain mental health and wellbeing. The problems are sometimes short-lived (for example, as a result of a distressing life event), but you will also care for people with longer–term needs. For them, even the simple things in life (like dressing or shopping) can take months of perseverance, patience and support to achieve. It’s often challenging work, based on a trusting relatio
Mental health nursing, also known as psychiatric nursing, is a branch of nursing practice which focuses on the care of people with mental illness, psychological disorders, and emotional distress. Nurses in this field receive nursing training which is supplemented by training in psychology and the administration of psychiatric care. Employment in this field is varied, with mental health nurses working in hospitals, residential treatment facilities, schools, and clinics at varying rates of pay. The history of mental health nursing began in the 1800s, when compassionate individuals began to suggest that residential facilities for the mentally ill should include nursing services. The level of training for early psychiatric nurses was quite varied, and many practices in residential facilities were brutal when compared to modern approaches to psychological distress. As understanding of mental health and appropriate treatment evolved in the 20th century, mental health nurses were often at the
Mental health nursing is a specialised field of nursing whose main focus is on a person’s subjective experiences. Mental health nursing’s primary tool to understand a patient’s inner world is the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship. Mental health nursing focuses on the mind of the patient with mental illness and problems, and how they relate about themselves and the world. Mental health nurses work in collaborative arrangement with patients including promotion of: • Psychological well-being and emotional health • Relationships with others and their peace of mind. What do mental health nurses do? Mental health nurses monitor the biological dimensions of mental illness through medication administration and behavioural observations and interpretation in general. In line with current trends and reforms, mental health nurses protect patients’ rights and support their families, carers and significant others. How do I become a mental health nurse? Mental health nursing is a postgraduate qu
