Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Career Resources

Psychiatric/Mental Health nurses work in a branch of healthcare concerned with the diagnosis and proper treatment of patients with mental illness. The clinical practice of psychiatric nursing occurs at two levels - basic and advanced. At the basic level, registered nurses work with individuals, families, groups, and communities to assess mental health needs, develop diagnoses, and plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care.

Basic level nursing practice is characterized by interventions that promote and foster health, assess dysfunction, assist clients to regain or improve their coping abilities, and prevent further disability. These interventions focus on psychiatric-mental health clients and include health promotion, preventive management of a therapeutic environment; assisting client with self-care activities; administering and monitoring psychobiological treatment regimens; health teaching; including psychoeducation; crisis intervention and counseling and case management.

A psychiatric/mental health nurse assesses patient mental health concerns and needs, develops and implements nursing care plans, and maintains comprehensive medical records. A psychiatric/mental health nurse typically administers care to patients in an inpatient, outpatient or outreach setting.

Psychiatric/Mental Health nursing is practiced by nurses who have formal, post-secondary education and who function in highly autonomous and specialized roles.