Last Updated on November 11, 2022 by Lily Connel
Mental health nursing is the branch of nursing that focuses on the mental and emotional well-being of people, including the development of healthy lifestyles. Mental health nurses are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, and eating disorders. These nurses work with individuals to help them develop coping skills for managing their illnesses.
Pros and Cons of Mental Health Nursing – The Comparison Table
| Serial | Pros of Mental Health Nursing | Cons of Mental Health Nursing |
| 1. | A great profession is Mental health nurses. | Employers prefer candidates who have obtained a master’s degree. |
| 2. | Mental health nurses help clients manage depression, loneliness, or other stressful situations. | Mental health nurses are not strongly supported by other healthcare professionals. |
| 3. | Mental health nurses prevent dangerous health conditions like depression or anxiety. | Mental health nurses can face difficulties managing their patient caseloads. |
| 4. | Mental health nurses are responsible for helping patients overcome mental illness. | Mental health nurses is Lack Of Professional Development Opportunities. |
| 5. | Mental health nurses’ salary is high. | Mental health nurses can experience a lot of workplace stress. |
| 6. | Mental health nurses often work closely with families, social workers, and physicians. Their expertise is needed to treat mental illness in patients. | Exposure to different environments, cultures, and people can not help you develop a more open mind. |
Pros Of Mental Health Nursing:
1) Educating Patients
Mental health nurses may also be responsible for educating patients on how to manage their illnesses. This includes teaching them how to recognize symptoms, and how to avoid or minimize some of the stressors that may contribute to a relapse. Mental health nurses often work with families and other healthcare professionals such as social workers and physicians to treat the patient’s mental illness.
2) New Employment Opportunity
The best training for becoming a mental health nurse is obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. Most employers prefer candidates who have completed a graduate program and have obtained their master’s degree. In addition to the educational requirements, candidates should be able to demonstrate compassion, empathy, patience, and the ability to work well with others.
3) Salary Range
The salary range for a mental health nurse can vary. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the median annual salary for a nurse in May 2011 was $66,490. However, the salary can be much higher depending on where you work and what your speciality is. Mental health nurses employed by state governments earned the highest median salary at $73,550 per year.
4) Illness Recovery
Mental health nurses may be responsible for helping a patient recover from an illness. For example, a mental health nurse may help an individual who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia by teaching them how to manage their symptoms and prevent relapse.
5) Prevent From Dangerous Health Conditions
Mental health nurses may be responsible for preventing certain diseases and conditions from developing. For example, a mental health nurse may work with a patient who has been diagnosed with major depression to teach them how to manage their symptoms and prevent relapses.
6) Help Patients Cope Through Everyday Life
Mental health nurses may help clients cope with common issues such as loneliness, divorce, or other stressful situations. Mental health nurses often work with physicians, psychologists, and other healthcare professionals to treat the patient’s mental illness.
Cons Of Mental Health Nursing:
1) Cure Of Illness Not Guaranteed
Mental health nurses are not able to cure or eliminate a mental illness. Treatment of the illness is the main goal of mental health nursing.
2) Lack Of Exposure To Different Environments, Cultures, And People
Mental health nurses may be limited in exposure to different environments and cultures. This may limit their ability to provide the best care for their patients.
3) Stressful Work Environment
Mental health nurses may experience stressful work environments due to high caseloads, lack of job security, lack of time off, and other factors. They are often required to work overtime or on weekends when needed.
4) Lack Of Professional Development Opportunities
Mental health nurses do not have many opportunities to learn new skills or advance their careers. They may be required to work long hours and weekends on a regular basis.
5) Difficulties Of Patient Management
Mental health nurses may experience difficulties in their patient management. They may not be able to provide the best care to their patients due to a lack of training, proper licensing, and other factors.
6) Lack Of Support System
Mental health nurses may not have much support from other healthcare professionals. They may experience difficulty with interpersonal relationships and a lack of social support.
What You Need To Know About Mental Health Nursing
Nurses who work in this area may be employed at mental health clinics, hospitals, or private practice. They are often working with clients who have been diagnosed with a mental illness such as schizophrenia or severe depression. Mental health nurses can also be found working in crisis situations such as suicide attempts or suicidal thoughts or helping patients transition from an inpatient setting to a less restrictive environment like outpatient care. These nurses help clients learn to cope with their illnesses and the stresses of day-to-day life.
The history of mental health nursing dates back to the 1800s. The first mental health nurses were trained at the University of Pennsylvania in 1885. Mary Breckinridge, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, was the first known woman to receive a degree in clinical psychology.
In 1917, the American Nurses Association (ANA) was founded and established a committee on nursing education for mental hygiene. This committee formed guidelines for teaching mental health nursing principles to nurses studying at colleges and universities across America. Eventually, more states began having these guidelines in place and passed laws that made it mandatory for all nurses to be trained as mental health nurses.
In 1946, another organization was formed that would eventually become known as the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA). This organization worked to establish a standard curriculum for the training of nurses who would work in mental health. In 1951, the American Mental Health Association was founded and developed a standardized curriculum for mental health nursing. This curriculum was eventually adopted by several states and became mandatory for all nurses who wished to practice as mental health nurses.
In 1973, the National Mental Health Nursing Coalition was formed to help improve the standards of care for patients with mental illness. This organization helped develop guidelines for proper care and established programs that taught these principles to nurses across America. In 1985, this group became an official part of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and is now known as the National Council on Nursing Education in Mental Health.
Since the 1950s, mental health nurses have been working to establish a standard curriculum for mental health nursing. Today, this standard is known as the National Council on Teaching Credentialing in Psychiatry (NCTCIP). The NCTCIP is a nonprofit organization that works to ensure that all nurses who wish to practice as mental health nurses have completed the proper training and education.
Conclusion:
Mental Health Nursing has been around for years, however, it is a growing field. The demand for mental health nurses continues to rise due to the increase in mental illnesses and disorders such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. The number of people seeking treatment for these illnesses is increasing at a rapid rate which creates an ever-increasing need for mental health nurses. Furthermore, the rate at which these illnesses are being diagnosed is also increasing at a rapid rate because of the high cost and stigma associated with many mental illnesses.
