Did you know that there is a branch of nursing that is concerned particularly for people of all ages who are suffering from mental illness or mental distress? This branch of nursing is known as psychiatric nursing or mental health nursing. It is this branch of nursing that pays attention to such mental ailments as psychosis, depression and dementia.

Psychiatric or mental health nurses are specifically trained to support other mental health professionals with their problems with patients. There are key differences between the scope of work of psychiatric mental health nurses and other branches of nursing.

For example, the clinical practice of nurses in this field usually comprises two levels: basic and advanced. If you are a nurse at the basic level, you are concerned with assessing the mental health needs of individuals, families, groups and communities, as well as developing a nursing diagnosis and a plan of how to take care of these patients. Furthermore, it is within your scope to see this plan through, after which you have to evaluate the level of nursing care that your patient received.

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When working with patients, basic level nurses are concerned with a patient’s’ self care and they administer and monitor the required psychobiologic treatment. They also teach individuals and groups about mental health issues. They are trained to assist in crisis counseling and intervention.

On the other hand, advanced practice registered nurses possess a Master’s degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing. Their role is that of a clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner. These advanced nurses perform many of the same duties of nurses at the basic level and they also diagnose and treat individuals and groups with psychiatric disorders. Moreover, advanced nurses provide a full range of primary mental health care services and oftentimes serve as psychotherapists, educators, consultants, advanced case managers, and administrators. There are many states in the US that grant advanced nurses the authority to prescribe medications. These nurses are also qualified to practice independently and offer direct care services to patients. Among the setting they are most prominent in are homes, offices, mental health centers, and community mental health programs.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including
Nursing, Alternative Health, and Womens Health

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