Mental Health Nursing - Introduction

MENTAL HEALTH NURSING - PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES

Introduction:

Effective mental health nursing involves the practice of the following principles, in realization of which the knowledge of psychology is of immense help.

nursing the whole patient

correct psychological approach to the individual patient

adequate sympathetic understanding of patient

effective health teaching

successful, personnel and professional adjustments

A good nurse will give consideration to these intellectual and emotional factors as well as the physical implications of the particular illness. A physical illness is accompanied by mental and emotional disturbances, which cannot and should not be ignored in scheme of effective nursing.

Jessie Williams remarks in psychology for students' nurses, it is necessary to recognise that each individual patient is a unique personality who reacts to illness, with his body, mind and emotions in his own individual way.

A child has to be operated for septic tonsils. Good nurses will not prepare the child only physically or medically for this impending operation. She will see that the child does not get terrified or frightened at the idea of impending operation.

Fears or worries if not relieved may worsen the child' s physical condition or retard the process of his recovery. The right approach of the nurse will achieve a complete rapport with the patient and put him at ease in the strange set up of the ward. The nurse

receives the patient as if he or she is her guest. Receive him/her with warmth and kindness.

            orients the patient to the ward, its surroundings the physical facilities available, the various people who work in and the various duties assigned to them in a sympathetic way.

            The patient may be anxious or tensed because of his illness. He may have many doubts and as such may ask many irrelevant questions.

            tries to answer his questions as well as she can. Always impart the correct information. Better postpones an answer rather than give incorrect information.

            talks to the patient and his relatives sympathetically. Explain things clearly and in simple language at the level of the patient' s understanding. Sympathy means feeling with the patient, dignified kindness and consideration with out undue and sentimental concern.

            tries to lessen the self-consciousness of over moderate patients by diverting their attention to impersonal topics.

listens to the patient. Let him relate to his own words exactly what is that troubles him. When he finds that he is being listened to with inherent attention, he will speak freely and without embarrassment. In short the nurse should see that nursing remains as it always used to be, the art of personal service to the sick.