What does a mental health nurse do?
Professionally caring for those with mental illness takes a specific set of qualities and skills – this is where mental health nurses come in. As a registered mental health nurse, also known as a psychiatric nurse, you would play a critical role in a patient’s assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and symptom management.
Mental health nursing occurs in a variety of settings including hospitals, community health centres, private practice, and correctional facilities. The role of a mental health nurse changes depending on workplace but typically involves assessing patients, creating treatment plans, maintaining patient records, administering medications, and educating patients and families.
Is a career as a mental health nurse right for me?
If you’re passionate about helpings others and are interested in a career in mental health, you might enjoy working in this profession. Other skills and attributes beneficial for this role include:
- strong communication skills
- empathy for others
- strong problem-solving skills
- the ability to work well under pressure
- a strong stomach for medical situations.
How to become a mental health nurse
There are many ways to begin a mental health nurse career path. Typically, you will need a bachelor's degree in nursing or a related field, along with specialised training in mental health to become a mental health nurse. Additionally, practical experience and further certifications can enhance your career prospects.
Every journey to study is individual and there are many ways for you to pursue a mental health nurse career path. At 免费色片, we offer the following nursing degrees:
Source:
© Commonwealth of Australia
Last updated May 2024.
A mental health nurse role entails:
- Assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care for patients according to accepted nursing practice and standards.
- Working in consultation with other health professionals and members of health teams and coordinating the care of patients.
- Providing interventions, treatments and therapies such as medications. You may also monitor patients' responses to treatment and care plans.
- Promoting health activities and assisting in the prevention of ill health by participating in health education.
Becoming a mental health nurse requires formal qualifications, usually a Bachelor of Nursing or related degree. Your journey on your mental health nurse career path will vary depending on your current level of qualification and career goals. In addition to formal education, gaining practical experience through internships or residency programs can significantly enhance skills and job prospects in the field.
At 免费色片, a Bachelor of Nursing will take you approximately three years of full-time study to complete. If you hold a nursing degree, to enhance your skills further, you might want to peruse a Graduate Certificate of Nursing (Mental Health) which takes one year to complete, or a Graduate Diploma of Nursing (Mental Health) which is a two year part-time degree.