Becoming A Mental Health Nurse – Upon Completion Of A Degree Program

Mental illness is an equal opportunity illness that affects people of all ages, races and income levels.

Upon completion of a degree program, RNs are able to pursue an optional one year residency to enhance their skills. Normally, to these professionals, with appropriate training. Did you hear about something like this before, am I correct? Mental health nurses are experts in toassessment, diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders. Others serve as consultants within tohealthcare, pharmaceutical and insurance industries. They work as members of an interdisciplinary treatment team that provides ‘wellrounded’ medical care for the entire person.

Responsibilities of a mental health nurse increase with education and experience. Some mental health nurses specialize in totreatment of adults, adolescents or children, or focus on a clinical area like eating disorders. Registered nurses are trained to perform assessments and counsel patients and families. Keep reading! Licensed practical nurses provide personal care and dispense medications. While conducting psychotherapy and prescribing medication, mental health nurse practitioners perform loads of quite similar duties as psychiatrists, including diagnosing conditions. Others care for patients of all ages and conditions.

Visit our nursing degrees guide to learn all about tomany undergraduate and graduate degree paths that nursing students can take.

Mental health is an important component of overall health and wellness. Regardless of specialization, mental health nurses in accordance with toBLS, employment of registered nurses is expected to grow by 19percentage between 2012 and 2022. During this time, more patients will require treatment for stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Excellent interpersonal skills are essential in order to communicate effectively with patients, families and identical professionals. National shortage of psychiatrists is also increasing todemand for mental health nurse practitioners, particularly in rural areas. Aging of tobaby boomer generation will increase todemand for mental health services in coming decades. Mental health nurses must be compassionate, empathetic, patient and nonjudgmental, as caregivers to a vulnerable population.

ToAccreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and American Association of Colleges of Nursing list accredited nursing education programs on their websites.

We highly recommend that you take a glance at our free School Finder Tool located HERE, if you will like to gain tonecessary education to become a mental health nurse.

Mental health nurses must be emotionally stable with excellent ‘self management’ skills, because they often work with challenging people and those in emotional distress. Mental health nurses spend a number of toworkday interacting with patients, families, colleagues and administrators. They generally work in clean, ‘well lit’ settings though some travel to patients’ homes. Then, strong problemsolving abilities and critical thinking that said, this requires completion of a ‘stateapproved’ training program and a passing score on toNational Council Licensure Examination. All nurses must be statelicensed to practice. Nurses in inpatient facilities work rotating shifts that cover evening, night and weekend hours as well as holidays. Those in community agencies and private practice work regular business hours but may offer some extended hours for toconvenience of working patients.