Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

Overview of Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing

Outline
 Similarities

& differences between psychiatric nursing and other fields of nursing  Skills & knowledge of the psychiatric nurse

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

Overview of Psychiatric/mental Health Nursing

importance of psychiatric nursing skills in all clinical settings  Career opportunities  Postgraduate study & endorsement  Professional affiliation
 The

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

The Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse



Mental Health Nursing is a specialised field of nursing which focuses on meeting the mental health needs of the consumer, in partnership with family, significant others and the community in any setting. It is a specialised interpersonal process embodying a concept of caring. (p. 3)
ANZCMHN (1995)
Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

The Essence of Psychiatric/mental Health Nursing



Lies not in tasks performed or with the presenting illness but in the relationship that develops with clients and families and their responses to the illness, including the impact that the illness has on their lives. The essence is in establishing a therapeutic partnership, a connectedness, between the nurse and client which is based on empathy and trust.
Elsom (2001)
Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

Similarities & Differences

   

SIMILARITIES Work in close contact with people from a wide variety of backgrounds Provide CARE for people with a wide variety of illnesses Involved in health promotion and illness prevention Nursing philosophy of benevolence
Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

Similarities & Differences



SIMILARITIES Education: must meet required level of knowledge and skills to attain registration/endorsement Governed by the Nurses Codes Professional Conduct & Ethics Structure of work hours, salary, benefits

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

Similarities & Differences

DIFFERENCES Core focus of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing  Therapeutic relationship  Use of self as a therapeutic tool  People-centred approach, engaging clients in discourse, promoting change  Less task orientated  Less technical environment  Professional autonomy
Moir & Abraham (1996)
Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

Similarities & Differences



DIFFERENCES Clinical competence based on interpersonal techniques

Stuart & Laraia (2001)

Less repetition in process & procedures due to client individuality

Moir & Abraham (1996)

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

Philosophy of the Profession

Each individual:
Has intrinsic worth and dignity and each person is worthy of respect.  Has the potential to change.  Has common, basic human needs  Varies in their coping capacities

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

Philosophy of the profession

Each individual(s):
Behaviour is meaningful  Has a right to equal opportunity for adequate health care.  Has the right to participate in decision making regarding their care.  Has the right to self-determination

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

Philosophy of the profession

The fundamental premise is:
The goal of nursing care is to promote wellness, maximise integrated functioning.nursing care is based on mutually determined needs and expected treatment outcomes.. An interpersonal relationship can produce change and growth within the individual.
Stuart & Laraia (2001, p. 7)

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

The Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes of the Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse

The knowledge base of the psychiatric/mental health nurse is grounded in the integration of the biological, psychological, spiritual, social and environmental realms of the human experience.
Stuart & Laraia (2001)

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

The Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes of the Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse

    

Broad context of care Requires purposeful use of self as a therapeutic tool Knowing you, Knowing me (Awareness of self) Barker, Jackson & Stevenson (1999) Requires great sensitivity to the social environment & advocacy needs of clients/families Requires careful consideration of legal & ethical issues
Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

The Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes of the Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse

THERAPEUTIC NURSE-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP

Physical dimension Safety dimension Social dimension Spiritual dimension Provision of treatment modalities Encouraging self-determination Provision of information
Cowman, Farrelly & Gilheany (2001)
Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

The Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes of the Psychiatric/mental Health Nurse

      

Milieu management Assessing, planning, implementing & evaluating care Pharmacological interventions Documentation/Administration Legal requirements Educating/supervision Coordination/Multidisciplinary team member
Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

The Importance of Psychiatric/mental Health Nursing Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes

In Australia, one in five persons will at some stage in their lives, experience a major mental illness.
Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care Services (1997)

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

The Importance of Psychiatric/mental Health Nursing Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes



Exposure to clients with mental health problems or illness in any area of practice Skills will assist the nurse to provide comfort to clients who may be experiencing a myriad of emotions. I.e. grief, anxiety, anger, cognitive deficits and subsequent behaviour, and diagnosed mental illness
Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

The Importance of Psychiatric/mental Health Nursing Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes



Mental state assessment skills Early intervention - reduced stays, improved recovery rates. Improved client outcomes Nurse more comfortable, confident in working with clients with mental illness
Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

Career Opportunities
Diversity within the profession  Attractive transferable skills  Consultation  Management  Education  Independent Practitioner

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

Career Opportunities
DIVERSITY
     

Public & Private Mental Health Services In-Patient Facilities Out-patient or Day-patient Programs Crisis Assessment & Treatment Teams Community Teams Consultation-Liaison Mental Health Nurse
Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

Career Opportunities
DIVERSITY
     


Adult Acute Community Adult Rehabilitation Child & Adolescent Aged Mental Health Forensic
Specialty Programs: I.e. Eating Disorders, Substance Abuse Treatment, Cognitive Behavioural Programs, Parent-Infant.
Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

Career Opportunities
      

Career structure Professional development Clinical supervision Scholarships Graduate nurse Programs Postgraduate Study Paid study leave

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

Postgraduate Study & Endorsement

    

Postgraduate studies in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Graduate Diploma Graduate Certificate Endorsement by the NBV (Where relevant) Highly attractive to prospective employers

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

Professional Affiliation


Australian Collage of Mental Health Nurses ACMHN. Standards of Practice Centre for Psychiatric Nursing (CPN)

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

Reflection
Nurses are traveling companions with patients, not travel agents the heart (of nursing) is the skills and values needed by nurses to establish and maintain human contact with patients.
Peck & Norman (1999)

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

References


Australian and New Zealand Collage of Mental Health Nurses Inc. (ANZCMHN) (1995). Standards of Practice for Mental Health Nursing in Australia Adelaide: ANZCMHN Inc. Barker, P., Jackson, S. & Stevenson, C. (1999). What are psychiatric nurses needed for? Developing a theory of essential nursing practice Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 6, 273-282. Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care Services. (1997). National Mental Health Report 1996: Fourth Annual Report, Changes in Australias Mental Health Services under the National Mental Health Strategy 1995-6. Canberra: Australian Government Printing Services

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing

References


Cowman, S., Farrelly, M. & Gilheany, P. (2001). An examination of the role and function of psychiatric nurses in clinical practice in Ireland Journal of Advanced Nursing 34(6), 745-753. Elsom, S. (2001). The active participants in Mental Health Services. In Meadows, G. & Singh, B. (Ed.), Mental Health in Australia, Collaborative Community Practice (pp. 136-162). Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Grigg, M. (2001) The role of the psychiatric nurse. Australasian Psychiatry 9(2), 143-145. Peck, E. & Norman, I. (1999). Working together in adult community mental health services: exploring inter-professional role relations. Journal of Mental Health 8, 231-242

Centre for Psychiatric Nursing