Breaking the Stigma: Qualities of A Great Psychiatric Nurse

• As a provider, the ability to help those with mental health illnesses can seem intimidating at first. 
• What one might imagine a typical day as a psychiatric nurse being may be totally different than what actually happens.  
• Wondering if you have what it takes to be a psychiatric nurse? Let’s find out!

What is a Psychiatric Nurse?

According to Medical Health News, a psychiatric nurse is “a specially trained professional who cares for the psychological and physical well-being of patients with mental health conditions or behavioral problems.” 

Mental illness can be viewed by many as a sign of weakness, failure, inadequacy, or a consequence of some type of behavior. However, this stigma needs to change for more positive patient outcomes to be met.  

The truth is, each and every individual experiences his/her own mental issues from time to time at various levels whether it is from dealing with what seems to be basic anger issues to dealing with more profound and lingering mental health disorders.   

Whether it is assisting with the planning of medical treatments, serving as a facilitator in engaging patient activities that assist in recovery, or stepping in as the patient’s advocate among the multidisciplinary team, it is evident that a psychiatric nurse is involved in many aspects of a patient’s care while at a facility. 

Additionally, a nurse in this role must value and implement patient education. Not only is it important for the patient, but for their families or caregivers, as it can help them to better understand what the patient may be experiencing and how they can support them.

Types of Patients

The majority of patients cared for in this setting consists of individuals with mental health conditions, psychological issues, mood disorders, and/or behavioral problems.  

It is imperative that a psychiatric nurse utilize the holistic approach when dealing with these individuals as it is of utmost importance to care for their psychological, spiritual, and physical well-being. 

The most common types of disorders dealt with by psychiatric nurses involve those with anxiety, depression, personality disorders, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and mood disorders.   

As with any illness, these can range in intensity from being mild to severe and the approach to caring for them involves a multi-disciplinary team that includes doctors, nurses, social workers, families, therapists, and psychiatrists.   

One of the greatest challenges that psychiatric nurses encounter when working in this area involves misunderstandings, misconceptions, and a lack of education.  

When working with this patient population, it is necessary to note the following and to be mindful of these:  

• Detailed assessments are crucial in determining what is taking place or what the underlying issue may be, and this can sometimes take a while due to the involvement of each patient’s situation.

• Respectful and effective communication is essential when working with a patient. 

– Ensure that they not only understand what the nurse is asking them, but that they do not feel rushed while developing a response.  

• As with any nursing career, a provider’s diction and body language can make or break a patient’s experience in a facility. A patient should never feel a lack of respect from their provider. This is especially important for a psychiatric nurse.  

• A psychiatric nurse should always offer sincere sensitivity to both their patient and family/caregiver.  

– Reaching out and consulting with other knowledgeable mental health professionals in order to develop a multi-disciplinary approach from various expertise areas is a huge factor in providing effective care.

– Psychiatric nurses must be mindful of referring a patient with mental, behavioral, or a psychiatric disorder to either an inpatient or outpatient facility that involves a community-like atmosphere since a community of individuals working together typically provides more positive results than an individual in an isolated setting.    

Work Environments

Psychiatric nurses have various work options available to them, including physician offices, hospitals, outpatient care centers, universities, specialty offices of healthcare practitioners, private practices, and rehabilitative facilities. 

In my experience, many nurses prefer a hospital setting where a patient’s progress can be noted from the beginning of admission until the date of discharge. Others prefer more spontaneous contact with individuals like universities and private practices.  

The rewards can be numerous for the psychiatric nurse whose desire is to invest intently with each patient experiencing mental illness and/or similar diagnoses.  

Many psychiatric nurses elaborate on the fulfillment and satisfaction received of not just helping their patients, but also of helping the families and caregivers to understand what is taking place and to be more aware of the impact that one’s mental health can have on individuals in today’s society.  

Skills Needed

Many of the skills needed and required to be a psychiatric nurse are the same as other areas of nursing, including: 

• Empathy 
• Compassion 
• Understanding 
• Patience 
• Kindness 
• Teamwork 
• Conflict resolution 
• Professionalism 
• Great communication 

It is important to note that a psychiatric nurse can have an associate’s degree or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and once this educational standard has been met and a license is received, a nurse is ready to be employed. 

However, if a nurse wants to work in a more specialized or advanced role in the field, additional education will be required. 

The Bottom Line

The work of a psychiatric nurse can be challenging, but at the same time extremely rewarding, especially when a patient progresses or improves.  

Additionally, it is also a huge accomplishment to experience firsthand how families of those caring for their loved ones are involved and commit to becoming an integral part of the recovery process.   

The area of mental health nursing is powerful and the needs of those with mental disorders are prevalent in various ages, environments, and settings. By providing great care and patient education, a psychiatric nurse can play in influential role in ending the stigma associated with mental illnesses.

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