What Psychiatric Nurses Do?

Psychiatric nurses are experts in crisis intervention, mental state, medications and therapies to help patients in mastering mental sickness. They work closely with them in order that they can live as productive and fulfilling lives as possible. 

How they work?

Work with people and families who have psychiatric problems and disorders, like depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis or dementia. During this role you’ll perform the subsequent tasks:

·         Assess mental health needs

·         Develop nursing care plans

·         Help patients regain or improve their coping abilities

·         Manage the therapeutic environment

·         Assist patients with self-care activities

·         Administer and monitor treatment regimens

·         Crisis intervention and counselling

Where they work?

Psychiatric nurses add several environments, the foremost common being: Regular hospitals, medical specialty hospitals, Home health care organizations, Prisons and jails, patient psychological state organizations, colleges that serve individuals with emotional and mental issues.  If you work in a regular hospital, you most likely will work a regular 12-hour shift, like most nurses do. However, you furthermore might may fit in a patient facility, wherever the person stays twenty-four hours per day. In this case, nurses can give 24/7 care and treatment for the patient. Psychiatric Nurses treat patients diagnosed with conditions like psychosis, emotional disorder, and depression. They’re also trained in behavioural therapy, which allows these nurses to teach patients, and their loved ones, how to deal with challenges that go along with psychiatric disorders

Psychiatric Nurse Degrees & Education

To become a psychiatric nurse, you must first become a registered nurse, which requires two years of schooling. If you are not already an RN, the best path is to enrol in a university full-time and earn your bachelor’s degree, which you will need before applying for a master’s program. Often, APRN programs expect you to have on-the-job experience before entering an advanced program, so it is advised that you check with any program you are considering before applying, and craft a plan to gain experience if that is a requirement for admission.

After completing your graduate degree, you will need to undergo clinical training with oversight from practicing APRNs and other medical providers. Then you will need to pass the state licensing exam, and from there, may pursue further specialization if you wish. While it is admittedly a long road toward becoming a practicing psychiatric nurse, most people find it a hugely rewarding job, in which you can both help people and add contribute to a field that has a huge need for skilled professionals. If you choose this path, the likelihood is that you will be very glad you did.