Essay about A Career in Mental Health Nursing

If your higher calling includes a career in nursing, one of the best jobs to consider is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). An LPN is on the front lines of health care, serving the public when they are most vulnerable. As direct care providers they must be detail oriented, knowledgeable and compassionate. Best of all, it's a profession whose job skills are in high demand both now and the foreseeable future.

Registered nurses work alongside physicians providing patient care in a variety of ways. A few examples of what nurses are responsible for include: administering medications, tracking patient’s vital signs, helping to diagnose and properly treat patient aliments and educating the patient and their family on their condition and the course of treatment. Depending on what area of medicine a nurse works in will determine more generalized and specific duties and responsibilities. There are many different areas a nurse may work in. Some areas include: obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, emergency room, and many more. Nurses can work in a variety of settings, these can include: hospitals, urgent cares, doctors office, nursing homes and home health.

Nursing practice has revolutionized itself throughout the years. Today we realize the causes of current illnesses as complex and multifaceted (source). In past models, for instance the medical model, the approach was straightforward and neglected the patients active involvement in their care; the patient was viewed as the passive recipient and the doctor, an active agent that “fixed” their patients. ( source). New developed models since then, such as the biopsychosocial model, show us that care focuses on many factors. The model demonstrates understanding of how suffering, disease, and illness can be associated by many factors seen at the different levels in society and the medical sciences (source). Caring for each component is

A Paramedic is a professional who works within the healthcare industry; they work alongside Ambulance Technicians, other Paramedics, Doctors’ and Nurses. They work on the frontline and are called out to any emergencies, where they can work with the Fire Brigade and Police depending on the emergency. Paramedics are usually first on the scene and give emergency treatment until handed over to the relevant department. (Health Careers, 2017) A Mental Health Nurse also works within the healthcare industry, however they are mostly based in a hospital setting or out within the community. They can work in a psychiatric ward or visit patients at home. A Mental Health Nurse can work alongside, Psychologists, Social workers and other therapists. Unlike a Paramedic, a Mental Health Nurse has more one to one time with patients. This can help build relationships with their patients and family,

As nurses, it extremely important for us to have an understanding of mental health so we can decrease the stigma in the healthcare profession. There shouldn’t be a difference between a “psychiatric nurse” and a “general nurse”. Since over 50% of the population suffers from a mental illness, both professions should be equally educated and sensitive towards health care issues.

As of 2008, there were about 753,600 Licensed Practical Nurses and 2,618,700 Registered Nurses in the United States (U.S. Department of Labor, 2010-11). In the year 2018, the LPN employment percentage is expected to rise 21% while the RN rate should be approximately 22% (U.S. Department of Labor, 2010-11). This may not seem that high, but it is, when one considers that the expected employment rate for a Dentist is only expected to be 16% (U.S Department of Labor, 2010-11). Nursing is a highly respected and sought after career because every person that enters this profession is able to make a difference and is needed by the general population for his/her skills and contributions to the medical field. When a person is contemplating entering

This is called an advocator, knowing their patients needs and wants so they can speak for the patient when they cannot speak for themselves. If you want to be a nurse advocate, you must first earn a bachelor's or associate degree in nursing, or graduate from a nursing diploma program. After successfully completing your education, you will need to pass the exam to become a licensed registered nurse. Nurses could also be a counselor maybe for particular things such as the people that are in charge of meetings for addicts. There is also nursing management which is performing leadership functions such as decision-making within organizations and employing nurses. It includes the common thing management do like planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling. There is also a nurse coordinator; the clinical nurse coordinator serves as the eyes and ears for the nurse manager on a given shift. They make rounds on patients and staff, leads by example, and serves as a liaison between the unit and other hospital departments. Lastly a nurse could be a researcher; a Nurse Researcher is a monthly journal which publishes original research and clinical articles relevant to the practice of nursing research. Nurse researchers are scientists who study various aspects of health, illness, and health care. By designing and implementing scientific studies, they look for ways to improve health, healthcare services, and

Historically, the nursing field is one that has consistent positive job outlooks, as there is typically a continued shortage. Healthcare is the backbone of most communities, not just for its services, but also for the jobs it provides and the economy stimulation. Jill Bernstein, author for “Changes in Health Care Financing and Organization” states, “The health care industry is a critical component of the national, and most regional and local economies of the United States” (4). The nursing field has suffered challenges due to the economic, social, and the political downturn of the U.S. Nevertheless, there is still some noticeable growth taking place and opportunities available. This shows encouraging signs for new nursing graduates.

I believe that nursing is both and art and a science consisting of psychosocial and biological sciences that work together to continually improve the health care field. I believe that with the knowledge and clinical experience from the TVCC ADN program I will be able to provide the best care possible to the people in the community. As a nurse it is important to carry the attributes of being caring, compassionate, understanding, non judgmental, realistic, open-minded, honest, ethical, and moral. I also feel that it is important to maintain sensitivity to all cultures when providing care.

During my work placement I noticed that nurses work in a variety of services and are in an ideal position to promote patients’ mental health and wellbeing by helping and empowering them to realise their abilities rather than focusing on their disability or illness (Ruddick,2013).

One must complete certain levels of education in order to become a good RN and have a successful career. You must have at least a high school diploma or a GED and must have had completed and graduated from a nursing program (www.iseek.org). Then complete supervised clinical work experience along with passing a national and state exam in order to receive a nursing license. Getting a bachelors degree in nursing would

In order to even consider this career student need to have certain calcifications for this career. If you are pursuing a career in nursing there are few prerequisites that are needed to even qualify for this job. For instance you must have graduated from a high school or obtained a GED if you did not finish high school. If a high school students has advanced placement classes in sciences it is a bonus for them because students will have experience in how these classes will be and the potential that is needed in order to pass this classes of nursing. Another qualification to be a registered nurse is either to go to school and get a diploma for nursing, go to a community college and obtain an associate’s degree that can take up to two years to complete or go straight inn to a cal state university or a university of California which can take four ears and you will earn your bachelors degree when finished with those four years.

About one-quarter of all American adults suffer from a mental health disorder in any given year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Mental health is an important component of overall health and wellness. Treatment options often include medication and psychotherapy. Mental health nurses help patients who suffer from mental illness to recover their mental health so that they can live to their fullest potential. For example, mental health nurses work in a variety of settings, such as, psychiatric hospitals, substance abuse treatment programs, home healthcare services, community mental health agencies, and private practice. This paper will give a description of my clinical experience at a psychiatric hospital.

Mental health counselors work with individuals, families, and groups to address and treat mental and emotional disorders and to promote mental health. They are trained to address a wide range of issues, including depression, addiction and substance abuse, suicidal impulses, stress management, problems with self-esteem, issues associated with aging, job and career concerns, educational decisions, issues related to mental and emotional health, and family, parenting, and marital or other relationship problems. Mental health counselors often work closely with other mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, and school counselors. (US Department of Labor)

     “Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, It requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation, as any painter´s or sculptor´s work; for what is the having to do with dead canvas or dead marble, compared with having to do with the living body, the temple of God´s spirit? It is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said, the finest of Fine Arts.” Spoken by a true nurse, Florence Nightingale; a pioneer of nursing and a reformer of hospital sanitation methods.