| Did you know that there is a branch of nursing that | | | | concerned with a patient's' self care and they |
| is concerned particularly for people of all ages who | | | | administer and monitor the required psychobiologic |
| are suffering from mental illness or mental distress? | | | | treatment. They also teach individuals and groups |
| This branch of nursing is known as psychiatric nursing | | | | about mental health issues. They are trained to assist |
| or mental health nursing. It is this branch of nursing | | | | in crisis counseling and intervention. |
| that pays attention to such mental ailments as | | | | On the other hand, advanced practice registered |
| psychosis, depression and dementia. | | | | nurses possess a Master's degree in |
| Psychiatric or mental health nurses are specifically | | | | psychiatric-mental health nursing. Their role is that of |
| trained to support other mental health professionals | | | | a clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner. These |
| with their problems with patients. There are key | | | | advanced nurses perform many of the same duties |
| differences between the scope of work of | | | | of nurses at the basic level and they also diagnose |
| psychiatric mental health nurses and other branches | | | | and treat individuals and groups with psychiatric |
| of nursing. | | | | disorders. Moreover, advanced nurses provide a full |
| For example, the clinical practice of nurses in this field | | | | range of primary mental health care services and |
| usually comprises two levels: basic and advanced. If | | | | oftentimes serve as psychotherapists, educators, |
| you are a nurse at the basic level, you are concerned | | | | consultants, advanced case managers, and |
| with assessing the mental health needs of individuals, | | | | administrators. There are many states in the US that |
| families, groups and communities, as well as | | | | grant advanced nurses the authority to prescribe |
| developing a nursing diagnosis and a plan of how to | | | | medications. These nurses are also qualified to |
| take care of these patients. Furthermore, it is within | | | | practice independently and offer direct care services |
| your scope to see this plan through, after which you | | | | to patients. Among the setting they are most |
| have to evaluate the level of nursing care that your | | | | prominent in are homes, offices, mental health |
| patient received. | | | | centers, and community mental health programs. |
| When working with patients, basic level nurses are | | | | |