INDEPENDENT VARIABLES DEPENDENT
5. CONCLUSION
• Showing nurse’s own anxiety
• Showing attention to the patient’s deficits
• Making the patient to face repeated failures
• Placing demands on patient which he obviously cannot meet
• Direct contradiction of patient’s psychotic ideas
• Passing sharp comments and showing indifference.
7. Objective observation of patient to understand his behaviour Objectivity is an ability to evaluate exactly what the patient wants to say and not mix up one’s own feelings, opinion or judgment. To be objective, the nurse should indulge in introspection and make sure that her own emotional needs do not take a precedence over patient’s needs.
8. Maintain realistic nurse-patient relationship
Realistic or professional relationship focuses upon the personal and emotional needs of the patient and not on the nurse’s needs. To maintain professional relationship the nurse should have a realistic self-concept and should be able to empathize and understand the feelings of the patient and the meaning of behaviour.
9. Avoid physical and verbal force as much as possible
All methods of punishment must be avoided. If the nurse is an expert in predicting patient behaviour, she can mostly prevent an onset of undesirable behaviour.
10. Nursing care is centred on the patient as a person and not on the control of symptoms
Analysis and study of symptoms is necessary to reveal their meaning and their significance to the patient. Two patients showing the same symptoms may be expressing two different needs.
11. All explanations of procedures and other routines are given according to the patient’s level of understanding
The extent of explanation that can be given to a patient depends on his span of attention, level of anxiety and level of ability to decide.
But explanation should never be withheld on the basis that psychiatric patients are not having any contact with reality or have no ability to understand.
12. Many procedures are modified but basic principles remain unaltered In psychiatric nursing field, many methods are adapted to individual needs of the patient, but the underlying nursing scientific principles remain the same. Some nursing principles to be kept in mind are:
safety, comfort, and privacy, maintaining therapeutic effectiveness, economy of time, energy and material.
Fig. 4.2 The Psychiatric Nurse
Source:
http://www.nursebuff.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Stress-
Reduction-Methods-nursing-mnemonics.jpg
• Assessing the client and planning nursing care.
• Providing safe nursing care, including medication administration and participation in various therapies, individual interactions, formal and informal group situations, role-playing, advocating on behalf of the client, and so forth.
• Providing a safe environment, including protecting the client and others from injury.
• Accurately observing and documenting the client’s behaviour.
• Providing feedback to the client based on observations of his behaviour.
• Teaching the client and significant others.
• Involving the client and the client’s significant others in the nursing process.
• Providing opportunities for the client to make his own decisions and to assume responsibility for his emotions and life.
• Cooperating with other professionals in various aspects of the client’s care; thereby, facilitating an interdisciplinary approach to care.
• Continuing nursing education and the exploration of new ideas, theories and research.
4.0 CONCLUSION
Mental health nursing is the practice of promoting mental health as well as caring for people who have mental illness, potentiating their independency and restoring their dignity. In order to fulfill this arduous occupation, a mental health nurse must possess a sound knowledge base and the requisite skills for good nursing practice.
5.0 SUMMARY
Mental health nursing is the practice of promoting mental health as well as caring for people who have mental illness, potentiating their independency and restoring their dignity. No doubt for a mental health nurse to render qualitative service to the teeming populace, she must be skillful and knowledgeable in her area of specialty.
In this unit, you have gone through several current issues and trends in the care of the mentally disadvantaged individuals in the society. The skills you have to display as a nurse and standards of care that must be maintained. We do hope you have learnt a great deal.
6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT
Apply the skills discussed in this unit in your interaction with two clients in the courseof the week and share your experience with your discussion group members.
SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE
1. Outline some of the changes that affect nurses role in relation to Demographic and Technological changes
2. What are your roles as a mental health and psychiatric nurse?
7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING
Sreevani, R. (2004). A Guide to Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing.
India: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers Ltd.
Morrison-Valfre, M. (2005). Foundations of Mental Health Care.
Missouri: Mosby Inc.