Assignment topic:
Mental health, nursing management, and available community resources. Instructions
The paper must be in the American Psychological Association format. Also include cover page, abstract, and reference page, which is not included in the 5 page paper.
Mental health, nursing management, and available community resources:
Introduction
Mental health is a growing concern worldwide, with one in five people experiencing a mental illness at some point in their lives (World Health Organization, 2022). As the prevalence of mental health disorders increases, so too does the demand for effective treatment and management. Nurses play a vital role in caring for those with mental illness, both in clinical settings and within the community. This article will explore contemporary issues in nursing management of patients with mental health conditions and examine community resources available to support recovery.
Nursing Management in Clinical Settings
When individuals experience acute mental health crises or require inpatient treatment, nurses are integral to their care and recovery. Contemporary approaches emphasize a holistic, patient-centered model that promotes dignity, autonomy, and empowerment (American Nurses Association, 2017). Nurses work to de-escalate distressing symptoms, ensure physical and emotional safety, facilitate therapeutic activities, and liaise with other members of the multidisciplinary care team (Gordon & Johnson, 2018).
Medication management is another core nursing responsibility. Nurses carefully monitor patients for therapeutic effects and side effects of psychiatric medications, making dosage adjustments as approved by prescribing clinicians (Barker & Buchanan-Barker, 2020). They also provide psychoeducation about medications to increase understanding and adherence. While medications play an important role for many, nurses recognize the multidimensional nature of mental health recovery and support patients’ social, emotional, and spiritual needs as well (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2016).
Subtitle: Community Resources for Outpatient Support
For individuals living with ongoing or recurring mental health conditions, community-based services are crucial for maintaining wellness, preventing relapse, and achieving full community integration. Nurses can help coordinate access to outpatient resources and support continuity of care following discharge from inpatient settings.
Peer support groups offer opportunities for social connection and shared understanding with others facing similar challenges. Groups such as NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) provide education, advocacy, and mutual aid (NAMI, 2023). Individual or family therapy from licensed mental health professionals also remains important for working through underlying issues and developing effective coping strategies. Therapists with expertise in evidence-based modalities like cognitive behavioral therapy or dialectical behavior therapy can help patients make and sustain meaningful changes (National Institute of Mental Health, 2022).
Psychosocial rehabilitation programs provide structured daytime activities and skills training to support community living and recovery. Services may include life skills classes, vocational assistance, wellness activities, and crisis intervention support (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2016). For individuals experiencing homelessness related to their mental illness, supported housing programs can help access affordable housing with optional on-site case management and services. Stable housing is recognized as a key factor promoting wellness and community integration (Treatment Advocacy Center, 2019).
Subtitle: The Role of Nurses in Coordinating Care
As integral members of patients’ care teams, nurses play an important role in coordinating clinical treatment and community-based services. They can help facilitate warm hand-offs between inpatient and outpatient providers to maintain continuity of care during transitions. Nurses also educate patients and families about available local resources, assist with accessing services and benefits, and troubleshoot barriers to care (American Nurses Association, 2017).
For individuals leaving inpatient settings, nurses may work with community case managers and social workers to arrange follow-up appointments, enroll patients in psychosocial rehabilitation programs, and ensure prescriptions can be filled. They can also provide patients with emergency contact information and relapse prevention plans. Ongoing care coordination is associated with improved outcomes including lower rates of psychiatric hospital readmission (Barker & Buchanan-Barker, 2020).
Nurses are well-positioned to advocate for patients’ needs at both the individual and systems levels. They may intervene on behalf of patients experiencing difficulties navigating complex benefits systems or accessing overburdened services. On a broader scale, nurses can work to strengthen partnerships between clinical providers and community organizations, identify service gaps, and promote policies supporting recovery-oriented, patient-centered care (American Nurses Association, 2017).
Conclusion
As the understanding and treatment of mental illness continues to evolve, nurses will remain integral members of interdisciplinary teams. Their holistic perspective and emphasis on continuity of care positions them well to coordinate clinical and community-based services supporting recovery. With nurses’ guidance and advocacy, more individuals living with mental health conditions will be able to access the comprehensive, person-centered support needed to achieve optimal wellness and full community participation.
References
American Nurses Association. (2017). Psychiatric-mental health nursing: Scope and standards of practice (3rd ed.). American Nurses Association.
Barker, P. J., & Buchanan-Barker, P. (2020). The tidal model of mental health recovery and reclamation: A practical guide for mental health nurses. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429056530
Gordon, S., & Johnson, L. A. (2018). Mental health nursing study bay : From service users’ to carers’ perspectives. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315170572
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2023). Support groups. https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Support-Groups
National Institute of Mental Health. (2022). Treatments. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/treatments
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2016). Core competencies for peer workers. https://www.samhsa.gov/brss-tacs/recovery-support-tools/peers/competencies-peer-workers
Treatment Advocacy Center. (2019). Supported housing. https://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/component/content/article/184-in-a-crisis/3075-supported-housing
World Health Organization. (2022). Mental health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health#tab=tab_1
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Study Bay Need first-class papers? Get Fast Essay Writers US & urgent essay writing service Ca – Notes:
Mental health is a vital aspect of nursing practice, as nurses encounter various stressors and challenges that can affect their well-being and performance. Therefore, it is important for nurses to have effective strategies for managing their mental health, as well as access to available community resources that can support them.
Nursing management of mental health involves identifying the sources and signs of stress, burnout, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues among nurses, and implementing interventions to prevent, reduce, or cope with them. Some of the interventions include:
– Providing regular supervision and feedback to nurses
– Encouraging peer support and mentoring
– Promoting a culture of respect and collaboration
– Offering flexible work schedules and breaks
– Providing opportunities for professional development and career advancement
– Recognizing and rewarding nurses for their contributions
– Providing access to counseling, therapy, or employee assistance programs
– Developing policies and procedures to address workplace violence, harassment, and bullying
– Creating a safe and healthy work environment
Available community resources for nurses’ mental health vary depending on the location, but some examples are:
– The American Nurses Association (ANA), which provides resources to help nurses cope with stress, including webinars, books, articles, and through service partners
– The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), which is a dynamic community of psychiatric-mental health nurses that offers evidence-based resources and programs, and exclusive opportunities to advance the care and treatment of those with mental health & substance use needs
– The Nursing: Mental Health and Community Concepts open textbook, which covers various topics related to mental health nursing, such as crisis intervention, suicide prevention, grief, substance use disorders, community mental health nursing, and more
– The Nurse Mental Health Write My Essay Today: No1 Essay Writing Service AU for Your Academic Papers – Guide: Statistics, Initiatives, and Resources website, which provides information on mental health statistics for nurses, the symptoms of burnout & PTSD, and a list of mental health resources to find hotlines, free therapists, peer-to-peer support groups, and more
– The Promoting nurse mental health – How to prevent long-term problems article, which discusses the importance of mental health promotion and prevention for nurses, and provides some tips on how to prevent long-term problems
References:
: 3.5 Crisis and Crisis Intervention – Nursing: Mental Health and Community Concepts. (n.d.). Retrieved December 28th 2023 from https://wtcs.pressbooks.pub/nursingmhcc/chapter/3-5-crisis-and-crisis-intervention/
: Nurse Mental Health Write My Essay Today: No1 Essay Writing Service AU for Your Academic Papers – Guide: Statistics, Initiatives, and Resources. (n.d.). Retrieved December 28th 2023 from https://www.rntomsn.org/student-center/nurse-mental-health-guide/
: Promoting nurse mental health – How to prevent long-term problems. (n.d.). Retrieved December 28th 2023 from https://bing.com/search?q=mental+health+nursing+management+community+resources
: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing – Psychiatric Nursing | APNA. (n.d.). Retrieved December 28th 2023 from https://www.apna.org/about-psychiatric-nursing/
: Combating Stress | American Nurses Association | ANA. (n.d.). Retrieved December 28th 2023 from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/combating-stress/
: Nursing: Mental Health and Community Concepts – Open Textbook Library. (n.d.). Retrieved December 28th 2023 from https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/1230
