The mental health nurse, functions, and phenomena of concern

1. The
Mental
Health
Nurse
ERIC F PAZZIUAGAN, RN, MAN, DScN
Units

2. Areas of Practice

3. Basic-level Functions
 Counselling
 Interventions and communication
techniques
 Problem-solving
 Crisis interventions
 Stress management
 Behavior modification

4.  Milieu Therapy
 Maintain therapeutic
environment
 Teach skills
 Encourage communication
between clients and others
 Promote growth through role
modelling

5.  Self-care activities
 independence
 Increase self-esteem
 Improve function and health
 Psychobiologic Interventions
 Administer medications
 Teach
 Observe

6.  Health teaching
 Case management
 Health promotion and
maintenance

7. Advance level functions
 Psychotherapy
 Prescriptive authority
 Consultation and liaison
 Evaluation
 Program development and
management
 Clinical supervision

8. Psychiatric- Mental Health Nursing
Phenomena of Concern

9.  Promotion of optimal mental and physical
well-being and prevention of mental
illness.
 Impaired ability to function related to
psychiatric, emotional, and physiological
distress.
 Alterations in thinking, perceiving and
communicating due to psychiatric
disorders or mental health problems.
 Behaviors and mental states that indicate
potential danger to self and others

10.  Emotional stress related to
illness, pain, disability, and loss
 Symptom management, side effects, or
toxiciness associated with self-
administered
drugs, psychopharmacological
interventions, and other treatment
modalities
 The barriers to treatment efficacy and
recovery posed by alcohol and substance
abuse and dependence
 Self-concept and body image
changes, developmental, life process

11.  Physical symptoms that occur along with
altered psychological status
 Psychological symptoms that occur along
with altered physiological status
 Interpersonal, organizational, sociocultural,
spiritual or environmental circumstances or
events that have an effect on the mental and
emotional well-being of the family or
community
 Elements of recovery, including ability to
maintain housing, employment, and social
support, that helps individuals re-engage in
seeking meaningful lives.
 Societal factors such as violence, poverty,
and substance abuse.