Reference no: EM133271093

Respond to at least two other student's posts with substantial details that demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and critical thinking. Remember that your posts must exhibit appropriate writing mechanics including using proper language, cordiality, and proper grammar and punctuation. If you refer to any outside sources or reference materials, be sure to provide proper attribution and/or citation. Need at least 150 are words each. Do you agree?

Discussion

1. Mental health nurses are skilled in providing care to patients with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia, and substance abuse (Norwich University, 2021). What gives me the most fear with working with these patients is that I, as a nurse, have to reevaluate everything I have learned in nursing school and take a step back. This is essential when working within the mental health specialty because a majority of what we learn in school is based on studies of people that do not have these deficiencies in their brains. Since mental health nursing is something that I want to pursue, when we are learning different thought processes and approaches, I am constantly thinking about those who have these disorders and what I would have to do differently in those situations. I believe the sole reason I may have some anxiety about approaching the topic is that I do not know exactly what to expect because I have never seen it firsthand, but I think clinical will be beneficial in aiding with calming my anxiety and clearing my fears.

Essential aspects of a good nurse-client relationship are empathy, respect, and trust. For the client to have trust and respect, the nurse must show empathy. Nurses that have empathy are better at understanding their patients' needs and putting the patients at ease when discussing their problems and concerns. If the nurse approaches the client with a carefree attitude, the patient is more likely not to trust the nurse or respect what she is educating them on. When patients do not follow the nurse's instructions, poor patient outcomes are more likely.

In general, I believe that communication is a key component but especially when you are providing care for a client. Active listening is one way that I have established a good patient rapport. Active listening is more than just hearing the words, it involves giving your patient your full attention and listening to understand as opposed to listening to respond. The nonverbal techniques I used were silence and appearance. I allowed my patient enough time to express their feelings and did not interrupt them. I was sitting straight, at eye level, and with my arms at my side. A verbal technique that I used was asking opened ended questions. To get a complete idea of what a patient feels, asking an open-ended question is the most beneficial.

2. Mental health nursing can be challenging due to several reasons. Nurses oversee these patients and provide quality care while trying to manage the challenges that come from these patients. My number one fear or challenge of working at a mental health facility is the stress and emotional exhaustion you must deal with each day you go to work. Another fear is patients' refusal to take their medications and becoming violent toward the nurses.

A good nurse-client relationship's essential aspects are respecting patients, treating them as our family, and doing what we expect others to do to us. Nurses must endeavor to use verbal and non-verbal communication. Nurses can show non-verbal communication through facial expressions and gestures. Nurses should also greet patients with their names, make eye contact, and should maintain confidence with professionalism. It is vital to explain every procedure we do to them before we commence.