The Role of Nurses in Mental Health Recovery
Mental health nursing has changed significantly over the years. Contemporary medicine, facing many problems, especially in the field of mental health, focuses the attention on the preparation of high skilled personnel, ready to face serious and enduring problems, and perform their functions and roles during the process of treatment and recovery in the best way. Focusing on the care of people having mental disorders or illnesses, mental health nurses play a central role in the rehabilitation and recovery of such patients. The training and education of nurses was subjected to changes, and in comparison with nurses of 1980s, the role of contemporary mental health nurses has increased and undergone a noticeable shift, which became obvious during performing their duties.
The Difference between Past and Contemporary Mental Health Nursing
During the 1980s the changes in the law, concerning people with mental disorders, created new requirements to nurse training (Tilley, 2008). The need in better education and broadening the base of nurses’ knowledge was aimed at not using nurses as a cheap labor force, and proving instead their important roles in the process of treatment and recovery (Tilley, 2008). Historical roots of mental health nursing have formed the basis of contemporary study, where the role of nurses in the process of recovery has raised. Thus, it is possible to affirm, that during 1980s it has been formed the demand in improvement of educational level and preparation of mental health nurses, thereby, broadening opportunities for obtaining new knowledge, corresponding to the requirements of one or another time. Contemporary specialists in mental health nursing are able to study various techniques, having thus more possibilities than 20-30 years ago.
Nursing Standards
Knowledge and practice in the area of mental health nursing changes constantly. It is caused by the broadening of new experience, research, and understanding of professional methods of medical treatment. In 1986 the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) was created, and it made a significant impact on the future of mental health nursing profession (Theodore, 2015). According to APNA there exist standards of mental health nursing, particularly, theory, data collection, diagnosis, planning, intervention, evaluation, peer review, continuing education, interdisciplinary collaboration, utilization of community health system, and research. The mail tool of a mental health nurse is the ability to communicate using the strength of the personality. Such specialist plays a central role in the treatment and care for people having mental disorders. This profession requires an interaction with patients, supporting them, and protecting their rights. In order to overcome the symptoms and continue the process of recovery, the level of knowledge and skills of the nurse are very important.
The Role of Nurses and the Process of Recovery
The system of mental health care is aimed at providing an adequate treatment and services to all people require it. In comparison with 1980s, the role of a contemporary mental health nurse was subjected to changes. It …