Psychiatric and mental health nursing

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (PMHN) has been the most interesting class I have taken at Baptist College thus far. With only six weeks to learn the basic knowledge of psychiatric nursing care, our instructors were still able to cover an abundant amount of information. Through this knowledge and information learned in lecture, we were able to better prepare and care for patients in the psychiatric clinical setting. Although I thoroughly enjoyed learning about psychiatric concepts of care and all the disorders, I do not plan to practice exclusively on a psychiatric unit. I enjoyed learning about every concept/topic talked about in lecture, however, the three topics that intrigued me the most were schizophrenia, substance use disorders, and…

Requirements In the path of attaining a position as a psychiatric-mental health nurse, discussed in depth are the education requirements and credentials necessary in both entry level and advanced positions within the field. According to the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (2015), the initial step one must take that is fundamental to becoming a psychiatric nurse is to graduate from an accredited program as a registered nurse. While there are several options regarding the educational…

Advantages and Disadvantages Within the context of the requirements and education needed in becoming a psychiatric-mental health nurse, it is imperative to analyze the advantages and disadvantages that concurrently arise with the necessary prerequisites in achieving this goal. A large advantage in relation to the basic requirements of becoming a psychiatric-mental health nurse are the various paths one can take in acquiring a degree. Whether it be an associate’s, a bachelor’s, or a diploma in…

myself, was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Her manic state was confusing and devastating to my family. Although my mother was living, I felt that I had lost her. That all changed, however, when she was admitted to the University of North Carolina Neurosciences Hospital. Witnessing her transformation towards mental stability with the help of UNC Psychiatry remain some of my most vivid memories. I had always dreamt of becoming a nurse just like my mother, but it was during this equally trying…

Introduction Self-mutilation is a commonly misunderstood and stigmatized area not only in nursing, but also in society as a whole. Nurses are accustomed to providing care for clients who have been admitted to the hospital due to a physical illness that was not directly brought on by actions of the individual, so when interacting with a client who has intentionally injured themselves, nurses may face moral and ethical dilemmas in providing them with care. According the Cornell Research Program…

With the rapid changes in health care, there is always something to be learned. There are always new methods to improve the standards of care for our patients, and there are always down falls to the system. It is important to stay up to date on both the good and the bad in order to mold the field of nursing into one of integrity and respect. This applies to every discipline of nursing practice, especially those who work in mental health nursing. This is why I have chosen to research and learn…

“Life is a journey undertaken on an ocean of experience. All human development, including the experience of illness and health, involves discoveries made on the journey across that ocean of experience” (Barker, 2001a, p. 235). The Tidal Model theory was developed around water as its core metaphor, theorizing that human experiences, like water, are constantly in motion and always unpredictable (Barker, 2001a). Water resembles a force that can work against a person when in crisis by damaging…

Analysis of the Concept of Comfort The purpose of this paper is to present an analysis of the concept of comfort using content delineated by Chinn and Kramer (2015, pp. 158-178). In doing so, I will provide a context for the concept of comfort, including how my nursing worldview shapes my view of comfort; examine how technology has impacted comfort, and explain the need to understand the concept of comfort in greater detail as it relates to nursing. Further, I will examine the use of terms…

It was my dream to enter college with the end goal of obtaining a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing to become a nurse. I have completed this first step by beginning my college career at UNC Charlotte. Upon entering UNC Charlotte as a freshman in the pre-nursing program, it has been both intimidating and difficult; however, I have learned a lot about myself and how to be successful in both college and my career. I have also learned an abundance of information about what it will take for me to…

This narrative is a reflection on my development as a health care professional. I will ponder on the start of my mental health nursing programme, my fears and feelings on commencing my training. I will reflect on the skills I had when I began my study, the skills I have learnt since I started training and the skills I will need to learn to develop as a capable healthcare professional. I will include an action plan on how I should be able to acquire the skills I need to improve my learning…