Psychiatric Nursing

A mental illness is as devastating as many bodily illnesses, but not nearly as well understood by the public to be a true medical condition. Psychiatric nurses use their expertise in mental health, crisis intervention, therapy and medications to help patients master mental illness and the stigma that surrounds it so that they can live fulfilling and productive lives.

Psychiatric nurses begin their work by interviewing and assessing new patients to learn their history, symptoms, patterns of illness and daily living habits. They care for people with:

7. Anxiety disorders (including phobias, panic disorder)

8. Mood disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder)

9. Psychotic disorders (including schizophrenia)

10. Addictions and substance abuse

11. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias

Together with a treatment team, psychiatric nurses develop detailed plans to provide the comprehensive care patients need to live their best lives. During the treatment phase, psychiatric nurses provide supportive counseling that helps patients and their families to better understand the illness. These professionals also help patients tackle everyday tasks like dressing, grooming and managing their medications.

A career in psychiatric nursing provides an opportunity for compassionate people to make a significant difference in the lives of those who suffer from mental illness. The care that these professionals provide helps patients ward off disability, poverty, social isolation and other complications associated with these conditions. In many cases, psychiatric nurses see their patients recover enough to return to their homes, jobs, families and the comforts of their everyday lives.

Exercise 1. Fill the gaps:

1) A mental illness is as ………. as many bodily illnesses, but not nearly as well ………. by the public to be a true medical ……….

2) In many ………., psychiatric nurses see their patients recover enough to return to their homes, jobs, ………. and the comforts of their everyday ……….

3) A career in psychiatric ………. provides an opportunity for compassionate people to make a ………. difference in the lives of those who suffer from ………. illness.

4) The care that these ………. provide helps patients ward off disability, poverty, social ………. and other complications associated with these ……….

5) Schizophrenia - it’s a ………. ……….

6) Anxiety disorders including ………. and ……….

7) Psychiatric ………. use their expertise in mental health, crisis ……….,and therapy.