Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Concepts of Care

Psychiatric nurses treat mental health patients in community outpatient clinics or inpatient-care hospital settings. Mental health nursing requires specialized training apart from other sectors of care in the field of nursing.

Significance

• Establishing standard concepts of care in psychiatric nursing improves communication among staff and the quality of treatment of mental health patients.

Function

• Interviewing patients, assessing mental status, and observing motor activity and behavior of psychiatric patients are nursing responsibilities. These concepts assist in developing appropriate treatment plans for patients.

Features

• Assessing patients as a psychiatric nurse includes formulating a working diagnosis and treatment plan from the initial evaluation, which can be modified as treatment progresses. The assessment incorporates concepts such as health factors, family issues, and social and cultural influences.

Benefits

• Implementing a treatment plan in accordance with mental health nursing concepts of care will focus on respect for the individual needs and autonomy of the patient throughout treatment.

Effects

• Treating patients for mental health concerns will improve the overall health and functioning of the patient. Developing a thorough plan for follow-up care and providing detailed discharge instructions will prevent the risk of relapse.