What does a mental health nurse do?
Professionally caring for those with mental illness takes a specific set of qualities and skills – this is where mental health nurses come in. As a registered mental health nurse, also known as a psychiatric nurse, you would play a critical role in a patient’s assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and symptom management.
Mental health nursing occurs in a variety of settings including hospitals, community health centres, private practice, and correctional facilities. The role of a mental health nurse changes depending on workplace but typically involves assessing patients, creating treatment plans, maintaining patient records, administering medications, and educating patients and families.
Is a career as a mental health nurse right for me?
If you’re passionate about helpings others and are interested in a career in mental health, you might enjoy working in this profession. Other skills and attributes beneficial for this role include:
- strong communication skills
- empathy for others
- strong problem-solving skills
- the ability to work well under pressure
- a strong stomach for medical situations.
How to become a mental health nurse
Every journey to study is individual and there are several paths to a career in mental health. At UniSQ, we offer the following nursing degrees:Source: yourcareer.gov.au
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Last updated May 2024.