Psychiatry in UK

Thanet · Aug 15, 2006

I would be happy to answer any questions. Please ask away! :)

StuPer · Aug 17, 2006

Hello Thanet,

Originally trained as an RMN in the UK, moved to Oz in 2000..... why are you asking incidentialy?

regards StuPer

Thanet · Aug 17, 2006

Hi StuPer.

I just wanted to see if there were any here... and to dicuss the recent changes in mental health in hospitals and community.

Just for a natter really.

sampaul1966 · Aug 18, 2006

5 1/2 years working in secure forensic nursing with qualification in substance misuse too

Thanet · Aug 18, 2006

15 years acute admission, 3 in psycogeri, 3 as cpn, currently in semi-secure rehab..

Never worked in forensic tho' and never substance misuse, (Apart from the initial admissions of course)

I still remember the old 1959 MHA being in force and waiting for 'the new improved 1983' act to come out which would 'Fix' all the problems of the '59 act... LOL.

simon greasley · Aug 20, 2006

I'm in the UK, worked acute, elderly, rehab, prisons currently in primary care in a Nurse led substance misuse clinic.

Thanet · Aug 20, 2006

hi simon,

I am pleased to see that the NHS is at last learning that often the nurses know more than the doctors regarding clients and treatment.

Gone are the days when a doctor would see a client 10 minutes a week and think they know it all.

I used to be a CPN dealing with admission assesments, ie no one could be admitted without us seeing them first, (including S136)

I think that the days of consultants raking in excessive fees for DVs are long over and of course we now no longer have inapproriate admissions and are able to reduce bed occupancy.

simon greasley · Aug 20, 2006

Here are some recent things i've been involved in

http://www.drinkanddrugs.net/drinkanddrugsnews/310706.pdf

http://www.smmgp.org.uk/html/newsletters/net015.php#Welcome

Hope this is of use

regards

Simon

5thflrnurse · Aug 24, 2006

Hello everyone,

I was wondering what a typical day is like for a RMN on an inpatient unit in England? (i.e. job responsibilities) Also, has mental health nursing been affected by the NHS job cuts I've been reading about?

In the US I work as a psychiatric registered nurse, and have a four year college nursing degree, but as I understand it, I cannot work as a mental health nurse without first going back to school for 18 months in the UK.

Is this correct?

Thanks very much in advance for your help!

5thflrnurse

sweetpealoubylou · Sep 2, 2006

Hello there :wink2:

Im starting my mental health diploma in nursing in Oct. Seems to me theres little information on Mental health nursing. I am unsure of which area id like to go into. I have considered possibly eating disorders or solvents abuse. Do you know of any good websites id be grateful for any you can advise on.

Lou

Thanet · Sep 2, 2006

sweetpea,

Try these for a start.

NIMHE. (National Institute for Mental Health in England.)

NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

BMJ (The British Journal of Psychiatry)