Mental Health Nursing

Social work with people with mental illness, known initially as psychiatric social work, began in the 1950s at the six county psychiatric hospitals across Northern Ireland (Herron 1998). These hospitals were administered by the Regional Health Authorities, whilst the new psychiatric social workers were out-posted from the County Welfare Authorities. The introduction of generic social work under the Seebohm reforms into Northern Ireland in 1972 coincided with the establishment of the integrated Health and Social Services Boards (Campbell 1998). The consequent loss of specialist psychiatric social work training courses was much lamented by the psychiatric professions (Barr 2002)

For ten years my parents sheltered me from the truth about my Grandfather’s suicide. The day he died is a blur, but I remember our afternoons together in his garden reading books he brought home from the library he worked at, and evenings eating Chinese food and watching ice skating—two of his favorite things. Finding out he committed suicide left me with myriad questions. As I matured my desire for understanding intensified. Drawn to human behavior and the mechanisms that affect it, I applied to the University of California at Berkeley as a Psychology major. In the summer prior to beginning my studies Anthony killed himself.

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

Learning can be achieved from different backgrounds, situation or environment. It is my optimist desire to use my time at Walden University to achieve the best knowledge and skills thought to me by the diverse professors and student. Being a nurse for 9 years with a diverse background has provided me with some experience and eagerness to achieve evidence base practice to advance my knowledge as a Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). The purpose of this paper is to guide me through this learning process to stay focus on my goal and future as I advance in the learning process.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is ever evolving. It has continued to adapt in the world of healthcare which has transformed since its introduction in 2004 (1). A doctorate in nursing first began as a research-based has now evolved to include a focus on nursing practice (4). The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Position Statement on the Practicing Doctor of Nursing, October 2004 stated,

This assignment is much like a Case Study and is intended to be a comprehensive learning experience that synthesizes essential psychiatric and medical/surgical nursing theory. Your finished product will demonstrate mastery of principles needed for nurses working with mentally impaired patients.

The medical field of nursing is based on servitude in God’s mission and through the means of compassion. Our missional goals must align with God’s (Wright, 2012). Nursing consists of care and compassion for the disadvantaged, weak, sick, and injured. This is in addition to the pursuit of high standards in professionalism, articulated in the delivery of a valuable service that is based on unique knowledge and experience, performed ethically, and practiced autonomously. The major characteristic of compassion is from God and how it relates to this world of professionalism is seen through nursing. Any job that advances God’s work in the world is a Godly choice (Col. 1:16-20).

Acute psychiatric inpatient nursing is primarily focused on the assessment and treatment of patients admitted in times of crisis. To effectively assess a patients needs a nurse requires an overview of the patient’s interactions with their external & internal environment. Fundamental to this been successful is the nurse patient relationship, forming a trusting relationship and maintaining this throughout the patient’s care. The nurse’s ability to listen, talk and understand are identified as key to positive patient experiences of feeling supported and cared for (Gilburt et al 2008).

Mental health can be an area that can benefit from health promotion. A nurse needs to always take his or her client into consideration when formulating a plan of care. Identifying an issue or formally assigning a nursing diagnosis is the first step. Making attainable goals that are reasonable for his or her client is the next step. Than finally working on specifics, the nurse and client will always operate as a team to meet goals. For example, this paper shows the care, respect, and patients that the nurse must have when aiding a client with an issue. By teaching the client how to improve her overall mental well-being and having her reflect to develop healthy habits the nurse has and will successfully improve the client’s mental health. Moving

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is a national, independent, non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide guidance, advice, and analysis of the field of medicine. The recent IOM report regarding the future of nursing gives us a glimpse of the dynamic and progressive changes that the field of nursing will experience in the coming decade.

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).

When it comes to nursing, there have been and are a number of individuals that have made a difference in nursing and have made a positive impact on nursing itself. Some of these impacts are still around and used today. There were a number of nurses who made a positive impact and made a difference in the lives of others and have saved lives as well. Without these nurses, hospitals and doctors would not be the same and would cause a lot of difficulties in the present time. These nurses played an important and positive role in hospitals and other health care places.

The goal to improve nurse-patient interactions with patients suffering from mental illness can be satisfied by a preceptor program that is used to train new hires by educating them on the history of mental health, training them on how to better understand mental health patients through communication, how to identify and control erratic patients, and they will be taught special skills on how to communicate effectively to best serve and treat different types of mental illness through interaction. In developing a preceptor program, the goal is to fix any and all problems to address the concerns of new hire nurses and to educate new hire nurses on how to adapt and control mental health patients in the work environment. It is also created to foster

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.

Hurley (2009) designed a qualitative study to clarify the identity of the mental health nurse. The author defines the psychiatric nurse’s role as the role as exhibited in several behaviors. The behaviors include, being a generic specialist, adopting the patient’s focus, engaging in talking therapy, interacting with the patients, and engaging in a therapeutic use of self. According to Foster, McAllister and O’Brien (2006) a therapeutic use of self is