Mental Health Nurse Career Description

Mental Health Nurse Job Profile and Description

A mental health nurse is an individual, who is also known as a psychiatric nurse and works with patients suffering from mental and personality disorders. A mental health nurse usually works in a health care facility, psychiatric ward, rehabilitation centers and mental nursing homes. They help the patients and their families to deal with the mental condition. They help the patient to recover from the illness so that they can lead a positive life. Some mental health nurses may specialize in working with children as well as elderly people. They attend to the needs of the patient admitted in the mental health care organization in which they are employed.

Mental Health Nurse Duties and Responsibilities

There are various duties and responsibilities required to be carried out by a mental health nurse. They are as follows:

• Caring for patients suffering from mental distress
• Talking to patients and discussing their problems
• Ensuring that the medication is given properly
• Keeping a check on the result of the treatment
• Preparing group as well as one to one therapy sessions
• Coming up with risk assessment techniques for the patients
• Identifying situations where the patient can harm himself and ensuring such situations are prevented
• Informing the patient’s family about his condition

Mental Health Nurse Skills and Specifications

The various skills and specifications required to become a mental health nurse are as follows:

• Must have active listening skills
• Should be caring in nature
• Must have empathy for others
• Must have knowledge in basic medical treatments

Mental Health Nurse Education and Qualification

The educational qualifications required for a mental health nurse are:

• Bachelors degree in mental health or psychiatric facilities
• Masters degree in mental health nursing

Mental Health Nurse Salary

The average annual salary of a mental health nurse is around $35000.