Mental Health Nursing

[Mary3010]

What duties would you be undertaking working in mental health? 

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

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Tasks commonly carried out by psychiatric nurses include:

• Assess the mental health of patients and monitor psychiatric patients for signs  of decline in illness
• Design, implement, and assess treatment plans
• Provide crisis intervention and counseling
• Help patients set and achieve both short and long-term mental health goals
• Administer medication to patients and assess its response, especially for medication side effects
• Obtain/ Monitor drug levels of psychiatric meds requiring titration
• Instruct patients to develop healthy coping skills
• Provide a therapeutic environment
• Assist patients with self-care techniques and activities
• Educate family members about a patient's mental condition and proposed care plan
• Lead therapeutic group
• Work with other members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team
• Recommend and connect patients with various programs and services

[Mary3010]

NRSKarenRN said:

• Provide crisis intervention and counseling
• Instruct patients to develop healthy coping skills
• Provide a therapeutic environment
• Lead therapeutic group
• Recommend and connect patients with various programs and services

Thank you! Is that similar to a psychologist or social worker - maybe not as thorough but something similar? 

Would you be providing services to support their wellbeing - maybe doing art or something else that is leisurely with them? 

 

[Davey Do]

Mary3010 said:

Thank you! Is that similar to a psychologist or social worker - maybe not as thorough but something similar? 

Would you be providing services to support their wellbeing - maybe doing art or something else that is leisurely with them? 

 

Hi Mary!

Karen is always one to hook us up with good resources and I thought I'd chime in:

Basically, a nurse's duties focus primarily on the daily routine of the unit, staffing & discharge meetings, areas of medical intervention- meds, treatments, acute and chronic conditions, etc.- and lots & lots of charting. 

In most facilities where I worked, RNs were the team leaders in crisis situations. As far as counseling, there are always those who desire one on one interaction that we can help as nurses, but you're right- it's something similar.

Nurses also are group leaders on various subjects- usually focused on physical and mental health. There are usually rec and art therapists, but I've not worked with one who was territorial. In other words, if I wanted to work with patients dealing with art or sports, the therapists were supportive, and easily took & gave ideas & information.

The best to you.

[Mary3010]

Davey Do said:

There are usually rec and art therapists, but I've not worked with one who was territorial. In other words, if I wanted to work with patients dealing with art or sports, the therapists were supportive, and easily took & gave ideas & information.

Thank you! Would that mean that as a mental health nurse you could be involved in providing art, music or recreational activities into their recovery? Maybe even playing music? 
 

Are the patients involved in sport activities? 

[Davey Do]

Mary3010 said:

Thank you! Would that mean that as a mental health nurse you could be involved in providing art, music or recreational activities into their recovery? Maybe even playing music? 
 

Are the patients involved in sport activities? 

On a few occasions, I brought my guitar in for things like sing-alongs. I sometimes would do art with the patients, especially the children.

At my last psych position, the children and adolescents used a gymnasium in the facility for light sports.

Back in the '80's, I was allowed to take the patients out to a field on the hospital campus to play softball. Patients leaving the facility was not allowed in later days.

[Mary3010]

Davey Do said:

On a few occasions, I brought my guitar in for things like sing-alongs. I sometimes would do art with the patients, especially the children.

That's sounds really good!! Are you still able to do art and music with the patients? Would it be during your time or  be part of your nursing role? 

That's a shame! Can you still do a form of sport or other recreation?

 

 

[Davey Do]

Mary3010 said:

That's sounds really good!! Are you still able to do art and music with the patients? Would it be during your time or  be part of your nursing role? 

That's a shame! Can you still do a form of sport or other recreation?

 

 

I retired from nursing 3 years ago Mary, so I do art only for myself, family, friends, and a customer now and again.

[Mary3010]

Davey Do said:

That's sounds really good!! Are you still able to do art and music with the patients? Would it be during your time or  be part of your nursing role? 

That's a shame! Can you still do a form of sport or other recreation?

Lucky! Were you doing those tasks before you retired or are other nurses doing it? 

[Davey Do]

Mary3010 said:

Lucky! Were you doing those tasks before you retired or are other nurses doing it? 

Flexibility, seizing crucial moments, and organicity played a big approach when dealing with patients, behaviors, the need to express themselves, Mary.

Generally speaking- and merely generally- most nurses are left brained and concrete. Basically speaking- and I reiterate: basically- most nurses know how to learn facts and know how relate to those facts.

One must learn methods of utilizing artistic expression therapeutically or have an innate sense of how these things intertwine into the fabric of therapy.

So, no, to make a short answer long, I sincerely doubt that any other nurse is doing what I did. With the cavalcade of duties and charting, it's difficult to find the time or inspiration for artistic expression.

I admire your interest and perseverance in seeking out and gleaning information in your endeavor, Mary.

 

[Mary3010]

Was your department not as busy to be able to do creative arts with patients? Are there other nursing specialties that could incorporate that into practice? 

[Davey Do]

Mary3010 said:

Was your department not as busy to be able to do creative arts with patients? Are there other nursing specialties that could incorporate that into practice? 

 I worked MNs for the last 17 years of my career so being the less busy shift for the most part, I was able to find acorns with which to work.

Probably the area that I was able to incorporate art into the treatment regimen was community mental health, both in the facility and in clients' homes.