It is expected that one out of every three persons will experience mental illness at some point in their lives. Nurses who specialize in mental health can assist patients in confronting their issues by assessing and treating a variety of ailments such as diseases, addictions, neuroses, psychoses, and personality disorders.
The majority work for the NHS, however, there are also opportunities in the private health sector as well as in some care and nursing homes. While still technically working for the NHS, certain Registered Mental Health Nurses (RMNs) may be seconded to situations such as prisons.
Qualifications and skills
A registered mental health nurse is a licensed nurse who has completed two or three years of study in the same discipline of nursing as the name suggests, depending on the course requirements. The mental health aspect of the area will have been emphasized in both the academic section of their training and their practical placements. Before they can practice, they must first register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential for a mental health nurse. They are frequently one of the first healthcare experts contacted or referred by a troubled patient. They might also find themselves spending a lot of time with specific patients. It's critical that they can analyze a situation quickly and accurately, and, if feasible, establish a relationship with the patient, particularly if the patient is displaying signs of anxiety, discomfort, or aggression.
Jobs as a community mental health nurse
The majority of persons with mental health issues are treated in the community rather than in a hospital. Some mental health nursing positions require collaboration with other professionals such as GPs and social workers as part of a community care team.
Community healthcare centres, hostels, day centres, and specialized units such as rehabilitation clinics may all have openings. Community nurses will still have to deal with a wide range of illnesses, but the patients they see on a regular basis may have fewer serious issues than those seen in hospitals.
Situations in hospitals
Mental health nursing employment can be found in a variety of hospital settings, ranging from an outpatient clinic or open ward to a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
An in-patient environment is usually acute, indicating that a patient is there for a brief period of time for treatment - usually to stabilize a condition before returning to the normal course of therapy or to assess a new patient before implementing a long-term care plan.
Nurses working in an acute setting may be exposed to violence and may need to learn how to safely restrain a patient.
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