We are increasingly aware of the importance of taking care of our mental health, but sometimes life doesn’t make it easy for us. Since the pandemic, cases of depression and anxiety have increased more than 25%, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Likewise, the current pace of life and the level of stress to which we are subjected only increase an invisible “pandemic” that affects more and more people.
To confront these problems, it is necessary to have specialized personnel. And it is not only psychologists and psychiatrists, but also nursing professionals, who play a very important role in the care and attention of patients with mental disorders.
A journey to the origins of Psychiatric Nursing
The roots of Psychiatric Nursing can be traced back to the American Civil War, between 1861 and 1865. At that time, teacher Dorothea Lynde Dix was in charge of touring asylums and prisons, preparing a detailed record of the situation of the mentally ill. Her example inspired others and led to the development of American Psychiatric Centers.
However, it was Linda Richards, America’s first professional nurse, who worked the most to spread the teaching of care for the mentally ill within the hospitals of her region. She believed that a person suffering from a mental disorder deserved the same care as someone suffering from a physical illness, something that could only be achieved by better preparation. She therefore created training schools such as the Boston Training School for Nurses now Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing.
On the other side of the world, Hildegard Peplau also shared those ideas. Considered by many as the mother of Psychiatric Nursing, she worked during World War II in a neuropsychiatric hospital where she had to deal with these conditions. In fact, one of her greatest contributions to nursing is her theory on interpersonal relationships.
Peplau stated that when the patients cannot identify or satisfy their needs, the nursing staff is essential to assist them and promote their autonomy. She therefore believed that quality care can only be provided when there is good communication and a trusting relationship between the nurse and the patient.
A lot of time has passed since then. Psychiatric Nursing has continued to professionalize, incorporating the latest discoveries in Psychology, Psychiatry and Medicine to provide patients with the help, care and support they need in one of the most difficult times of their lives.
How to study Psychiatric Nursing?
Today it is much easier to specialize in the care of patients with mental disorders than it was decades ago. It is no coincidence that of the more than three million nurses working in the US, psychiatric nurses represent the second largest number of behavioral professionals, according to labor data.
However, a specific training path must be followed. The journey to becoming a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) starts with enrolling in an accredited nursing school.Your first milestone is achieving at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). You can kickstart this by opting for a two-year degree, then smoothly transition into a bridge program to elevate your qualification to a BSN.
Your next step? Becoming a registered nurse (RN). This involves conquering the NCLEX-RN, the pivotal licensure exam for RNs. Following that, you’re ready to apply for your state RN licensure.
Next, it’s time to applying to an accredited psychiatric nurse practitioner program to pursue either a master’s or doctorate degree. The good news? In the ever-evolving metaphorical geography of mental health care, the advent of online psychiatric nurse practitioner programs presents a promising avenue for enhancing access to quality care and improving mental health outcomes. These programs offer a unique blend of convenience, flexibility and specialized training, catering to the growing demand for mental health professionals in diverse settings.
In fact, psychiatric nurse practitioner programs are designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address the complexities of mental health care effectively. Through tailored curricula, students receive comprehensive training in areas such as psychiatric assessment, pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and crisis intervention. Additionally, these programs often offer opportunities for specialization, allowing students to focus on specific populations or areas of interest, such as child and adolescent psychiatry or geriatric mental health.
The integration of evidence-based practices and contemporary research findings guarantees students are equipped with the latest tools and techniques in the field of psychiatric nursing. This commitment to staying abreast of advancements contributes to the delivery of high-quality care and empowers psychiatric nurse practitioners to adapt to evolving healthcare landscapes. As a result, graduates are well-prepared to meet the diverse needs of individuals across the lifespan and address emerging challenges in mental health care delivery.
As part of your certification process, you’ll also need to complete 500 clinical hours within a faculty-supervised program tailored to your role as a PMHNP. These experiences could unfold in hospitals, private clinics, or mental health facilities.
Once you’ve earned your advanced degree and completed those essential clinical hours, you’ll be primed to sit for the psychiatric mental-health nurse practitioner exam administered by the American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Additionally, you can apply for PMHNP licensure in your chosen state of practice. Just a heads-up: regulations for nurse practitioners can vary from one state to another, so it’s crucial to stay informed about the specific requirements wherever you plan to practice.
Builders of hope: The work of the mental health nurse
Professionals specialized in Psychiatric Nursing can work at all three levels of care, providing personalized care.
1. Primary care, fundamentally in prevention work to protect the mental health of the population and prevent the establishment of psychological disorders. Its work focuses fundamentally on informing and monitoring the most vulnerable groups and people.
2. Secondary care, focusing on those who already suffer from a mental disorder. They are responsible for detecting cases and facilitating access to treatment to limit the negative consequences of the psychiatric problem as much as possible.
3. Tertiary care, focused on people who have developed serious impairment due to a mental disorder. In these cases, the objective is to help them recover, develop their skills, promote autonomy and prevent relapses or prevent a greater degree of disability from occurring.
Nurses specialized in mental health are always monitoring patients to detect, for example, the side effects of psychotropic drugs, as well as to verify positive responses to treatment.
By maintaining more direct and immediate contact, they become invaluable support for many patients just at the moments when they feel most emotionally fragile. They are the ones who are with the admitted patients 24 hours a day and follow up on those who have been discharged.
Thanks to their daily work, their training and experience, many people can lead a more independent life without being stigmatized or locked within four walls. They are not only essential for psychopathological stabilization, but also to try to ensure that patients do not lose their functionality or to help them recover their social skills and autonomy.
In fact, nurses specialized in mental health play a vital role in improving therapeutic adherence and quality of life for people with psychiatric disorders. Therefore, although they normally operate “in the shadow”, it is essential to recognize their daily dedication to ensure that these people can lead a fuller life.
References:
(2022) World mental health report: Transforming mental health for all. In: OMS.
Phoenix, B. J. (2019) The Current Psychiatric Mental Health Registered Nurse Workforce. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association; 25(1): 10.1177.
Chávez, B. et. Al. (2018) Enfermería Psiquiátrica: Un pilar en la salud mental. EnfermeríaPsiquiátrica; 15(65): 75-84.
Hagerty, T. A. (2017) Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations: An Alternate Factor Structure for Patient Experience Data? Nurs Sci Q; 30(2): 160–167.
Richards, L. (1915) Early Days in the First American Training School for Nurses. American Journal of Nursing: 16; 174-179.
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