Reflection on the Development of Academic and Professional Skills in Year 1
Entry requirements
To apply to work in a mental ill health facility one needs a degree in mental health nursing. When applying for courses, it may help to have some relevant paid or voluntary experience. Current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) will be also sufficient to handle this. Those with a related degree may be able to join a nursing degree in the second year of a course. Those with experience as a healthcare assistant or mental health support worker may be able to complete a part-time nursing degree by applying for a secondment. Such individuals may get NHS funding to pay for their course fees and help with their living expenses. The NMC has more information about becoming a mental health nurse.
Skills required
Some necessary skills will be essential to care for people with mental health needs. These skills include i) excellent observation skills, ii) good communication and listening skills, iii) the ability to gain a patient’s trust, iv) empathy and capacity to relate to people of all ages and backgrounds, v) the capacity to stay calm in stressful situations and vi) assertiveness and the ability to represent patients’ interests. Besides, a driver’s license may be an advantage to working in the community.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of a psychiatric nurse include supporting people who have a range of mental disorders including anxiety, depression, stress-related illnesses, personality disorders, eating disorders, and drug and alcohol addiction.
You could work with a variety of people, or specialize and work with a particular group, like adolescents or offenders. Your day-to-day duties may include assessing and supporting patients, encouraging patients to take part in role-playing, art, drama, and discussion as therapies; physical care, if the patient is too old or ill to look after them, and giving medication
A mental health nurse can work closely with support workers, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and health visitors. You can help your clients while dealing with social workers, local government, housing officials, charities, and even the police.
5. Working hours, patterns and environment
The work hours for a mental health nurse are typically 37.5 hours a week, including evenings, weekends, night shifts, and bank holidays. He or she could work in a hospital on a ward, specialist unit, or outpatient unit. If you work in the community, you could be based at a GP surgery, community health center, prison, or a patient's home.
6. Career path and progression
With experience, you could progress to a sister or ward manager and be responsible for running a ward or team of nurses in the community. You can later become the matron or be promoted to the director of nursing. After further studies and relevant experience, there are opportunities to become an advanced nurse practitioner (ANP), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), or nurse consultant. Consultants work directly and independently with patients, carry out research, develop, and deliver training. You might receive training in health visiting, become self-employed, or work overseas.
Skill Profile
Personality and communication skills are central to being a mental health nurse. In light of this, I have a good knowledge of mental ill health theory and can translate that knowledge into practice. I am warm and engaging regarding personality and adept at expressing genuine empathy with the client and their unique circumstances.
Because of the risk of violence associated with mental health professional nursing, some skills will be requisite to identify the build-up of stress and defuse it accordingly. Regarding this, I have good observational skills, interpersonal skills, and psychosocial skills. An equally useful personality for this job is the ability to remain calm and focused in the middle of confusion and chaos. For such situations, I will use my problem-solving skills, good judgment, and capacity to give counsel (Health Careers n.d.).
I have the requisite skills and abilities to provide care for mental health patients. The skills I have can be categorized into seven: interpersonal, communication, behavioural and cognitive, environmental, physical, and sensory.
Interpersonal skills will be necessary to initiate and continue professional relationships and rapport with clients and their family members. This skill is evident because I usually maintain calmness despite their weird mental health behaviours. Interpersonal skills will also be essential to identify the needs of clients and fellow practitioners, besides being essential to facilitate respectful and professional interaction. By this specific skill, I appreciate that others have views and needs that can clash with mine, allowing me to accommodate such variations. It is also important to embrace the diversity of both patients and staff. Similarly, these skills will enable me to appreciate and keep personal boundaries. I am also capable of developing professional relationships with people exhibiting diverse behaviors, such as avoidant personalities and physically aggressive persons.
Communication skills will also be essential to provide effective care for mentally ill persons. In this regard, I speak and understand spoken English sufficiently to confuse words and meanings. I also have a good understanding of written English necessary to avoid confusing words and meanings, such that I can attend to information from patients or family at the same time to record his or her health history. My high-level communication skills enable me to pass complex information effectively. The evidence for this skill is the fact that I communicate well with other members of the healthcare team.
My behavioral skills are uniquely important in this occupation. I have an excellent ability to self-manage my behaviors to deliver safe, ethical, and competent nursing care for patients and their families. This skill allows me to engage with others and myself to create a safe environment. I also can think independently. This skill allows me to respond adequately in stressful situations and conflict incidences. Also, I can respond properly to give and receive touch and work closely with clients with multiple mental health conditions. Under such circumstances, I can set priorities in the face of diverse demands.
My cognitive skills make me suited to the role of caring for psychotic patients. Specifically, I can remember information over a brief period and a long period. I have adequate problem-solving skills necessary to make a professional judgment. I can reason adequately to develop professional judgment and exercise inquiry skills to develop professional judgment. Also, my mathematical skills are expedient to perform critical mathematical calculations. Some proof of my cognitive skills include the ability to remember clinical skills or a range of signs and symptoms and diagnoses from past patients. I can apply my experience to make current decisions. I can remember written, oral, or taped information provided by either colleagues or patients or their families. I can calculate and verify medication dosages because of my cognitive ability, as well as critically analyze patient assessment data. Also, I can choose from potential interventions, recognize adverse effects, and intervene accordingly.
The fourth class of skills I have is environmental skills. This category describes my ability to work in the presence of most of the commonly encountered unavoidable problems. Such environmental issues are noxious smells, aetiology, interference, noise, chemicals, and unpredictable behaviours of others. My environmental skills also pertain to certain conditions of work including the provision of services beyond a health care facility; being outdoors in adverse weather and hard terrain conditions, shift work, and working alone. Evidence for this skill includes being tolerant to odour from infections, faeces, vomits, and urine. I can recognize dangers in the environment of the client and can handle the unpredictable behaviours of others. I can work on a round-the-clock schedule that includes evening and night shifts of varied durations.
The fifth category of skills includes...
When it comes to nursing, many people may think of treating and caring for patients with physical illnesses and diseases. Emotional and mental health issues are also real and may require nursing care. Mental health nursing, which is sometimes called psychiatric nursing, involves caring for patients with mental health issues and conditions.
Responsibilities
Mental health nurses work with patients of all ages who have a variety of psychiatric problems, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. They also take care of people suffering from dementia, substance abuse problems, or eating disorders.
Similar to other types of nurses, mental health nurses assess and monitor patients, administer medications, process admissions, and chart behaviors. Depending on what kind of facility a nurse works in, additional responsibilities may include developing and leading therapeutic and recreational activities. Mental health nurses may also conduct groups, such as symptom management skills groups, social skills training groups, and family support groups.
Regardless of where a mental health nurse works, education is usually part of the job description. Nurses play a significant role in educating patients and families on mental health diagnoses and managing their mental conditions. They may also educate patients about the side effects of the drugs they have been prescribed.
Education and training
If psychiatric nursing is something in which you are interested, your first step is graduating from an accredited registered nursing program. Although some facilities may hire licensed practical nurses, most prefer to hire registered nurses. Registered nursing degree programs may vary from two to four years. Associate degree programs can be earned in two years, while a bachelor’s degree program usually takes four years.
Whether you complete a two- or four-year degree program, you will need to pass the NCLEX exam and get a license. Some facilities may hire new nurses just out of school to work as mental health nurses. In other cases, a healthcare facility may want a nurse to have a few years of experience in any area of nursing to develop strong patient assessment skills. To increase my chances of getting a job in the field, I can obtain voluntary certification as a psychiatric mental health nurse. A certification exam is offered through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Working conditions and salary
Working conditions may vary for mental health nurses depending on the type of facilities they work in. For example, nurses who work in mental health clinics may mostly work during the daytime. Nurses who work in psychiatric hospitals may need to work varied hours, including nights and weekends.
Salaries for mental health nurses will depend on the level of education they achieve. Those with a bachelor’s or master’s degree may earn more. Your level of experience and the type of facility you work in also play a part in earnings.
Opportunities for mental health nurses
Mental health nurses may work in acute care hospitals, which have sections designated for patients with psychiatric conditions. More commonly, nurses will find jobs in psychiatric hospitals, mental health clinics, or outpatient programs. Correctional facilities may also hire mental health nurses.
Some mental health nurses decide to work primarily in one of the subspecialties of psychiatric nursing. For instance, young mental health nurses work with teens and young adults with psychiatric problems. Nurses may also choose to specialize in caring for people who have substance abuse problems in addition to mental health diagnoses.
Traits needed to be a successful mental health nurse
If mental health nursing interests you, having certain traits and skills will help you excel in this area of nursing. One of the greatest strengths you can have is strong interpersonal skills. You will be spending a lot of time talking with patients and possibly family members. Nurses working in mental health facilities need to have excellent communication skills and work effectively with all types of people.
Another essential trait is the ability to work well as part of a team. As a psychiatric nurse, your responsibilities will include coordinating the patient’s care with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, counselors, therapists, and technicians.
Having a calm demeanor and being able to handle stress well is critical for mental health nurses. Often, mental health nurses deal with difficult patients who may be having psychotic episodes. Being able to handle a chaotic situation in a calm and rational manner is necessary.
Strong assessment skills and good judgment are new traits you will need. Nurses in psychiatric facilities are continually assessing patients to determine if treatments, such as therapy and medications, are helping. Nurses also need to assess the situation continually to make sure patients are in a safe environment and be alert to any impending crises.
Advantages and disadvantages
Nurses who work in the field of mental health may have the chance to work in a setting other than an acute care hospital. Opportunities in other contexts, such as correctional facilities and outpatient clinics, may be an advantage to some people. One of the greatest benefits is to offer help to someone who has a challenging diagnosis and overcome it. Not all illnesses are visible by looking at a person, and psychiatric illnesses sometimes carry a stigma. Nurses can play a major role in helping patients cope with their illness and improve how they function.
Some may perceive certain aspects of mental health nursing as negatives. Patients with mental health conditions can be difficult to work with at times. They can become angry or aggressive towards other patients and staff, which can be stressful to deal with. Some patients may not improve, which can be upsetting. It is also common for patients with psychiatric problems to be non-compliant with their treatment plan, and that can be frustrating. However, if you are patient and pay attention to detail, mental health nursing could be the perfect fit for you!
Mental health is a specialized field of work and involves caring for people suffering from various types of mental illnesses or disorders. The mental health nurse's primary focus is to work alongside individuals and their careers to overcome the symptoms of their illness, and commence, and continue their personal recovery. Responsibilities include protecting the rights of their consumer and supporting the user's families and careers. A mental health nurse's work is not confined to a hospital setting. It occasionally extends to local health centers, small residential units, people's homes, and the community.
As a mental health nurse, you will have opportunities to interact with a diverse group of people from all backgrounds experiencing a range of mental illnesses and disorders including psychosis, depression, and bi-polar disorder. Mental health nurses work within a multi-disciplinary team that may include psychiatrists, social workers, psychologists, and GPs. The mental health nurse plays a central role in the planning and delivery of care for people experiencing mental illness or disorder.
My main tool as a mental health nurse will be the strength of my personality and communication skills. I will need to empathize with the people I engage with and show warmth and care about them. Regrettably, there is still some stigma attached to mental illness. Combating this and assisting the individual and their families deal with the complex nature of mental disease and disorder is a key part of the mental health nurse's role. Mental health nursing is an immensely satisfying career providing the opportunity to specialize in areas such as child and adolescent mental health, older persons' mental health, rehabilitation, and recovery, assertive community services, drugs, and alcohol or the justice system. Mental health nurses are a critical component of a successful mental health system. Employment of new graduates, registered and enrolled, nurses provides a major entry point for nurses into the mental health workforce. Funding is provided for a range of strategies to enhance the mental health nursing workforce.
