NURS1007 Mental Health and Its Importance in Nursing Assignment Sample

• Subject Code : NURS1007
• University : The University of Sydney My Assignment Services is not sponsored or endorsed by this college or university.
• Subject Name : Nursing

Health Research

Mental health and physical health have been found to be fundamentally linked to one another. Studies have reflected upon the idea of establishing direct association between the mental health as well as chronic physical conditions (Shavitt, 2016). These conditions are also found to have a direct impact on the overall quality of life of individual suffering from the same. World Health Organization has also defined health as a state of composite physical, mental and social well-being and not only the absence of any diseased condition in a person (Nordmyr, 2020). As far as the health standards are concerned, the ultimate bounds of sound health status, ends with a sound status of mental health of a person. Poor mental health is found to be concerning risk factor for developing chronic physical conditions. This goes vice versa as well. the impact of chronic physical condition can be directly related to enhancing a poor mental health status.

So, it is imperative to cater to the medical needs of a patient from both point of views. Even the social determinants of health, impacts equally on the chronic physical and mental health of the person. This can be normalized by inculcating a healthy daily routine and few lifestyle modifications, aimed at promoting and enhancing overall healthcare outcomes in the patient. When a healthcare professional acknowledges and understands the direct link between well of both mind and body, they can develop a methodical and strategic approach in reducing the incidences of these chronic conditions (Ohrnberger, 2017). It is also vital from the point of view of treating the patient with a holistic manner.

Mental health is inclusive of our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It directly impacts on the thinking and feeling pattern of the person (Brossard, 2020). It also modulates as to how a person might comprehend and react to a particular situation. With a sound mental health parameter, one can be ensured to make healthy life choices and thus, promoting an overall robust lifestyle. The role of nurses can be deemed very important in the medical hierarchy. They are a vital and on-point source for providing care and treatment to the patients. It is imperative that the young nurses especially, be involved directly in this process. These nurses can contribute largely in reforming healthcare provisions for mental health related issues. Knowledge on medical health is also required so that they can be good advocates for patient’s rights, if and when required (Ellis, 2017). From the point of view of improvising nursing care plan and before commencing any new interventions, it is imperative that patient’s state of mind is acknowledged. This is also beneficial in establishing a healthy communication channel between patient and the nurse and will lower down the chances of medical errors as well.

The recovery care model in mental health is a holistic approach, which works on patient-centered care delivery in mental health related scenarios. The model defines mental health conditions as treatable, which can be carried out through an effective recovery pattern in sync with patient-directed advent. The model has been defined by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), as a path to recovery from mental illness (McCance, 2018). This path has been defined as slow and progressive approach supporting all four underlying dimensions including, promoting mental health, enabling a safer environment, maintaining wellness in the recovery process and helping the individual in developing social support and enhancing on community relations (Joo, 2016). Recovery from any mental illness is a process that might involve personal decision-making in multiple walks of life. Nurses can be observed to be in a unique position to assist the individuals in managing their personal health status. They can also help the patient in integrating their health behaviors and making use of the same in the recovery plans for the patient.

As this cannot be executed from the patient’s end, nurses can work in close coordination with them and thus, helping in smooth facilitation of care delivery of required services. Nurses are also well-versed with various assessment tools and motivational interviewing skills. This can also be used by the nurse in helping the patient to make a better recovery plan and thus, enhancing their decision-making capacity. This behavioral display from the nurse’s end can also ensure improved health care outcomes in patients. This model also highlights the importance of acknowledging and ensuring highest regards for patient’s dignity (Tauber, 2018). The care model also emphasizes on the gravity of detailed assessment of the patient. Generally, in an acute care setting or places where nurses may be engrossed in workload, certain vital information is slipped from being noticed. Lack of insight into the case scenario, not only puts the patient in danger, but also brings about legal implications on the staff assigned in patient care. Knowing the details of the patient, also avoids any chances of development of pre-fixed notion in the mind of patient as well as the healthcare provider. It also allows a strong medium for establishing a trustworthy relation and communication channel between the patient and the nurse.

With this strong therapeutic bond between the patient and their care provider, smooth and competence transition of care delivery can be ensured of. The body language of the patient also tells a lot about him and his presumable actions he might take (Borsting, 2020). Therefore, both verbal as well as non-verbal communication grounds can be constructed with this care delivery model, crafted especially for mental health patients (Ahmed, 2018). It will also help in knowing the needs and requirements of the patient in a more professional as well as personal manner. A robust and true collaboration established between the patient and the healthcare provider can contribute largely to prioritize the specific needs of the patient. Profound and diligent medical services can thus, be rendered in sync with the same.

If a person is worried about their mental health status or if the nurse observes an abnormal mental health pattern, it is imperative as a first step to carry out detailed assessment. Generally, a primary mental health evaluation is generally carried out by a psychologist or a psychiatrist, as per the needs of the patients. however, in emergent cases, nurses are also well-trained to take a detailed and comprehensive mental health examination of the patient. This can be considered as a crucial step, as it lets the nursing professional aligned in patient care, to have a clear picture of the patient (Yong, 2016). This detail assessment not only provides a picture to the nurses on how the person is feeling, rather also provided a slight hunt for the patient’s anticipated actions. This series of assessment helps the nurse in carrying out all of the vital information for the patient. It might also reflect upon connection between the physical and mental status of the patient. Having details, will also help the nurse in determining any potential risk and harm the patient might cause to one own self or to others. This assessment is also helpful in setting a boundary between underlying mental and physical health related problems (Witt, 2018).

By assessing a person, the grey areas of concerns can be highlighted and worked upon. This can also very-well define the risk factors and thus, interventions can be crafted in accordance with the same. People with severe mental health related illnesses are less likely to have their needs identified. This comprehensive method of assessment can be helpful in catering to their complex health needs and concerns. People who are having long-term physical health related concerns are more likely to suffer from mental health related issues as well (Catanzano, 2020). These people can develop conditions like depression and anxiety, due to prolonged course of their treatment and no positive health outcome. These psychological incidences can impair with the daily living routine of the patient and can hamper with their functional capability (Tranter, 2020).

Knowing the details about the patient can help in early identification and early prevention of the signs and symptoms, that are bound to have a detrimental effect on the person’s physical, emotional and mental well-being. This detailed assessment method can also be helpful in setting priorities in various clinical settings. Such cases are prevalent in emergency wards, outpatient clinics, inpatient clinics and so on. Different scenarios have to be catered in a different manner. The detailed assessment will help the nurses in triaging the problem and acting upon the same with sound clinical decision-making. This will be best suitable for the patient to obtained improved healthcare outcomes as well. With certain scenarios such as old age patients, post-partum females, drug-addiction etc, the condition of mental health issues such are found to be directly observed in the patients. These conditions can include depressions, anxiety, withdrawal symptoms etc. The listed conditions are also found to have a slow rate of manifestation in the patient. With the help of detailed comprehensive approach of assessment, these signs can be identified in an early stage for required ramifications needed.

The nurses can work in a collaborative approach with their other healthcare team members to ensure that the patient is assessed as well as provided care from a holistic point of view. Few of the common step that can be included for the same, starts by acknowledging the issue of mental health as crucial. With a constant stigma attached with mental health, there is are few generalized stereotypes circulated in the healthcare environment (Fokuo, 2017). These pre-fixed notions have not only affected the patients but also the medical staff aligned in patient care. Due to the fear of stigma a patient might often hesitate to accept their deteriorating mental health status. The young nurses can work with their experienced staff in getting a knowledge about the limitations of their working environment in terms of mental health promotion. By addressing to the limitations, which can be structural, financial, workforce related and so on, the same can be worked upon to enhance the overall productivity of the system (Halpin, 2017). This is also crucial from patient care point of view, as the patients will not be provided with false hopes regarding their treatment and a trustworthy atmosphere can be established.

These young and enthusiastic nurses can also enroll themselves in educational activities, where they can learn on coping and interventional strategies to deal with mental health related patients (Rönngren, 2018). Having knowledge from the experience of their senior subordinates, can help them in developing skills of sound clinical decision making as well as critically analyzing the situation. This will be helpful in grooming them in making effective clinical decision-making, fruitful for their professional growth as well as for improving patient’s healthcare outcomes. They can also be engaged in activities which help in promoting overall wellness for the patients. These can be included of promoting physical activity, meditation, enabling advices of good nutritional support to be followed. The young nurses can also help the patients with the referrals to specialist services, so as to deal with complex mental health related issues.

Safe and supportive working environment can be provided for the patient and their families so that they can openly express their grievances and concerns. This will be helpful in maintaining a transparent and trustworthy interaction between the patient and the care provider. The nurses can also improve their knowledge on the stigmatization related to mental health (Fokuo, 2017). This will be helpful in imparting education about the impact of the same on the patient as well as their family, to commoners. This can be a fruitful approach in narrowing down the bridges and ensuring safe and profound delivery of care to the patient. Screening, assessing and commencing on a prompt action can be helpful for the patient in their hour of need. This will also be helpful in identifying the risk and resilience factors for particular age group or community, thus, helping in delivering patient care accustomed to the patient’s needs. Young nursing scholars can also be a productive part of awareness campaigns, to facilitate delivery of enhanced and advance conceptual model of care delivery in mental health.

References for Mental Health and Its Importance in Nursing

Ahmed, H. M. (2020). Role of verbal and non-verbal communication of health care providers in general satisfaction with birth care: a cross-sectional study in government health settings of Erbil City, Iraq. Reproductive Health, 17(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-020-0894-3

Borsting, T. E., Kristensen, N., & Hanssen, I. (2020). Student nurses’ learning outcomes through participation in a clinical nursing research project: A qualitative study. Nurse Education in Practice, 43, 102-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2020.102727

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Catanzano, M., Bennett, S., Sanderson, C., Patel, M., Manzotti, G., Kerry, E., ... & Shafran, R. (2020). Brief psychological interventions for psychiatric disorders in young people with long term physical health conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 110-187. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2020.29.10.553

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Fokuo, J. K., Goldrick, V., Rossetti, J., Wahlstrom, C., Kocurek, C., Larson, J., & Corrigan, P. (2017). Decreasing the stigma of mental illness through a student-nurse mentoring program: a qualitative study. Community Mental Health Journal, 53(3), 257-265. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-016-0016-4

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