What Does a Psychiatric Nurse or Mental Health Nurse Do?

Posted on 17th May 2023

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If you are interested in a career that allows you to make a difference in people’s lives while also experiencing personal and professional growth, becoming a mental health nurse may be the right option for you. As a psychiatric nurse, you will have the opportunity to work closely with patients with mental health issues, providing them with care and support.

Not only is this job highly rewarding, but it also offers numerous benefits such as competitive salaries, flexible scheduling options, and the ability to work in various settings such as hospitals and community clinics. In this article, we’ll explore the job role of a mental health nurse in more detail and showcase the benefits of this career option.

What Do Psychiatrist Nurses Do?

As a psychiatrist nurse, you would be taking care of patients with mental disorders. Mental health nurses work in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities to help patients achieve better mental health through various treatments such as therapy and medication.

These specialized nurses are trained to identify symptoms of mental illness and provide compassionate care for patients who are suffering from these conditions. They engage with patients and their families to help them understand the nature of their illness and guide them through the process of treatment and recovery.

Overall, mental health nurses provide vital support for individuals who are facing some of the most challenging obstacles in their lives.

Roles and Responsibilities of Psychiatrist Nurses

As a psychiatric nurse, you will play a crucial role in the mental health care system. Your responsibilities can vary widely depending on your work setting, but they will typically involve treating patients who are experiencing various mental health issues. You will work alongside psychiatrists, social workers, psychologists, mental health counsellors, and other healthcare professionals to deliver treatment and care.

Some of your critical roles and responsibilities will include the following ones:

• Assessing and diagnosing patients with mental health illnesses
• Carrying out thorough evaluations of a patient’s symptoms and medical history
• Developing diagnoses to guide treatment decisions
• Cooperating with psychiatrists and other mental health professionals to create treatment plans
• Managing medications and other interventions such as individual and group therapies
• Monitoring a patient’s progress and health status
• Taking vitals and administering therapies
• Interacting with a patient’s family members

Perhaps most importantly, as a psychiatric nurse, you’ll bring high levels of compassion and empathy to support your clients throughout their difficult times.

How to Become a Psychiatric Nurse

If you are interested in pursuing a career as a psychiatric nurse, there are several steps you need to take. First of all, you will need to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) or an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN), and then gain some experience working as a registered nurse (RN). You can begin specializing in psychiatric nursing by finding the right psychiatric NP program for you.

This program should provide relevant coursework and clinical experiences focused on mental health disorders and their treatment. The curriculum may include classes on pharmacology, psychotherapy, patient assessment, and crisis intervention.

Once you have completed your degree and obtained certification as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, you will be ready to work with patients experiencing mental health issues.

A Career as a Psychiatric Nurse: What to Expect

If you’re considering pursuing a career as a psychiatric nurse, setting your expectations correctly is the first step to take. Firstly, when it comes to salary expectations, psychiatric nurses tend to make slightly over the average nursing salary. On average, in the US, mental health nurses make between $86,949 and $106,822 a year. Keep in mind that salaries may vary based on factors such as location, level of experience, and educational background.

In terms of work schedule, psychiatric nurses can usually expect to work a traditional 40-hour workweek with occasional overtime hours. Some facilities may require nurses to work evening or weekend shifts depending on their patients’ needs. However, many hospitals and mental health clinics offer flexible scheduling options.

Overall, if you are interested in pursuing a career as a psychiatric nurse you can expect competitive pay rates coupled with fulfilling opportunities in helping individuals facing mental health challenges. However, if you still have donuts whether this is the right path for your career goals, you should consider working with a career coach or collecting the experiences of current mental health nurses.