Mental health conditions take many forms and are truly universal. They affect all ages, genders, geographical locations, ethnic backgrounds, and societies. They are not uncommon among people presenting in emergency departments or among those being treated for health problems across other care settings. Indeed, nurses in almost any area of service are likely to care for patients who are experiencing, or have experienced, varying degrees of mental health conditions (Nadler-Moodie, 2010). It is essential that nursing education equip future nurses to provide quality care to these clients.
Mental health nursing is a critical issue for most countries. Nurses in low and middle income countries are often the primary providers of care for people with …show more content…
Primary health care staff provide the majority of mental health services in even the most developed countries, and nurses are the main providers in these health-care systems.
For all these reasons, it is important to provide some reliable information about nurses and mental health care. This report intends to begin this process, though much more work will be necessary before it will be possible to understand fully the complex issues involved in the very important issue of nurses and mental health (WHO …show more content…
In most of these countries, the number of nurses with formal training in mental health is far less than the number of nurses working in mental health settings. In view of the severe scarcity of other mental health personnel in these countries, the role of nurses becomes even more critical.
c. Incorporate a mental health component into basic and post-basic nursing training
Mental health must be an essential ingredient of training for all nurses. Mental health training is a necessary prerequisite for the provision of mental health care, but is also important for a holistic approach to general nursing care. General nursing curricula need to be strengthened by incorporating appropriate mental health components.
The findings of the world health report (WHO 2001), in response to questions asking for the numbers of nurses working in mental hospitals, psychiatric units of general hospitals, and community mental health regardless of whether or not they have had any mental health training. Consequently, this information should not be construed to suggest that all of these nurses are trained in mental
Mental health nursing is a critical issue for most countries. Nurses in low and middle income countries are often the primary providers of care for people with …show more content…
Primary health care staff provide the majority of mental health services in even the most developed countries, and nurses are the main providers in these health-care systems.
For all these reasons, it is important to provide some reliable information about nurses and mental health care. This report intends to begin this process, though much more work will be necessary before it will be possible to understand fully the complex issues involved in the very important issue of nurses and mental health (WHO …show more content…
In most of these countries, the number of nurses with formal training in mental health is far less than the number of nurses working in mental health settings. In view of the severe scarcity of other mental health personnel in these countries, the role of nurses becomes even more critical.
c. Incorporate a mental health component into basic and post-basic nursing training
Mental health must be an essential ingredient of training for all nurses. Mental health training is a necessary prerequisite for the provision of mental health care, but is also important for a holistic approach to general nursing care. General nursing curricula need to be strengthened by incorporating appropriate mental health components.
The findings of the world health report (WHO 2001), in response to questions asking for the numbers of nurses working in mental hospitals, psychiatric units of general hospitals, and community mental health regardless of whether or not they have had any mental health training. Consequently, this information should not be construed to suggest that all of these nurses are trained in mental