The fight against mental health would not be possible without the tireless efforts of the unsung heroes—mental health nurses. Becoming a nurse in the mental health field is a noble pursuit that requires dedication to studies and caring for people with psychological illnesses and challenges. But what exactly do mental health nurses do in the fight against mental health issues?
The roles and responsibilities of mental health nurses
Essentially, mental health nurses are the professionals who build trustworthy relationships with patients who are seeking out mental health services, whether for themselves or for their loved ones. This comes with many responsibilities, ranging from helping patients take their medication correctly to maintaining their medical records. Here are some of the main tasks that mental health nurses carry out daily:
- Assessing patients through discussions regarding their mental health
- Conducting risk assessments on patients
- Working patiently to understand the cause of the patient’s conditions
- Preparing and maintaining patient records effectively
- Ensuring that throughout treatment, all legal requirements are being complied
- Conducting one-on-one therapy sessions with the patients
- Effectively monitoring their patient’s progress with their family and loved ones
Where do mental health nurses work
Mental Health Nurses typically work in hospitals or in and around the community. Like other medical personnel, mental health nurses may also work on a shift cycle, working for a few hours and then being off. However, this does depend on the type of work they’re doing. This is where a mental health nurse would work in a hospital:
- Psychiatric ward
- Outpatient unit
- A specialist unit dealing with eating disorders or other issues
- A psychiatric intensive care ward
If a mental health nurse is working within a community, they would most likely work in a:
- General practitioners facility
- Community Centre
- Prison
- In residential homes
Essential skills a mental health nurse needs to have
Working with individuals who suffer from mental health issues takes a unique, gentle approach. As you can imagine, this would require the nurse to have a unique set of skills to manage these individuals, and rightfully so. When studying, mental health nurses develop vital skills that help them effectively support and guide mental health patients through their issues. Here are some of the essential skills a mental health nurse needs to have:
Communication skills
Communication is one of the most important skills a mental health nurse needs to learn. Patients who struggle with mental health problems may be withdrawn, anxious, or even unpredictable in times of crisis. As the nurse, you may need to calm them down or instruct them to do something calmly, clearly, and gently. To ensure this is done well, a nurse needs to ensure that they can communicate clearly and effectively.
The ability to listen
Mental health nurses need to communicate effectively and have good listening skills. They need to be present and nonjudgmental and allow a trusting relationship to develop between them and the patient.
Empathy
Empathy doesn’t come naturally to everyone, but it’s an important skill to master as a nurse. Empathy allows mental health nurses to relate to what the patient is feeling. By relating to the patient, they can better understand the care needed and adapt their approach accordingly.
Emotional resilience
As a mental health nurse, you’re undoubtedly going to be faced with some emotionally demanding clients and some extremely disturbing situations. When this happens, nurses need to stay well-grounded, manage their stress well, and avoid burnout. Some mental health nurses even seek out professional help for themselves to ensure that they remain in the right frame of mind.
Observational skills
As a mental health nurse, you must have keen observation skills that enable you to notice slight changes in a patient’s behaviour, mood, or body language. Often, these changes can be a sign of an underlying issue or could indicate discomfort. Either way, picking up on these signs could be invaluable as you deal with patients.
Problem-solving and crisis-management skills
Finally, mental health nurses need to be quick on their feet, being able to adjust in difficult sitautions and solve problems effectively. Crisis management is also an important skill that mental health nurses need to learn. The ability to de-escalate a tense situation, assess risk, and respond calmly to a patient under pressure will help nurses immensely, particularly in a psychiatric setting.
Where can I study further as a mental health nurse?
If you want to study further to become a mental health nurse, here is a helpful page from VU! Here, you’ll find all you need to know about how to pursue a career in mental health nursing, including the requirements, expectations and career outcomes when you do a graduate certificate in mental health nursing. To get ahead in your journey of becoming a mental health nurse, why not look into it today?
Final thoughts on becoming a mental health nurse
Now that you know a little more about what mental health nurses do, would you ever consider becoming one? Statistics show that 1 in 8 people suffer from mental health issues. Mental health nurses are on the front lines, helping these individuals manage and overcome their issues. If that’s something you could see yourself doing, what are you waiting for?
