|
|
| Name: |
Psychiatric
Nurse |
| Description: |
The
art of using one’s self in therapeutic ways
to assist patients to affect changes in
self-understanding and behavior. Views
individuals from a holistic perspective, taking
into account both physical and mental health
needs while focusing on human behavior |
| Client
age group: |
Children,
adolescents, and adults |
| Diagnoses: |
Acute
and chronic mental illnesses including psychoses,
personality and mood disorders, neuroses,
physical abuse and sexual assault with/without
substance abuse and/or medical-surgical problems |
| Practice
roles: |
Staff
nurse, counselor, therapist, clinical nurse
specialist, case manager, head nurse, supervisor |
| Characteristics: |
Patient
care and relationships; autonomy, independence,
and teamwork with peers |
| Drawbacks: |
Uncooperative
or difficult/dangerous clients, excessive
paperwork, restrictive patient-care policies,
bureaucratic demands, stress and conflict from
misconceptions about mental illness |
| Desirable
skills: |
People
skills including self-understanding and
communication, medical-surgical skills,
psychological and physical stamina |
| Education: |
RN
with AD, Diploma, or BSN (preferred) |
| Employers: |
Hospitals,
outpatient facilities, health departments,
long-term care centers |
| Certification: |
|
| Associations: |
|
| Publications: |
| Journal
of the American Psychiatric Nurses
Association |
| |
| APNA
News |
| 202-857-1133 |
| |
| Journal
of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric and
Mental Health Nursing |
| 800-826-2950 |
| |
| Journal
of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health
Services |
| 609-808-1000 |
|
|
