NSG 221 – Mental Health Nursing
This course focuses on the role of the nurse in caring for patients with alterations in mental health. Focus is placed on the nursing process framework with emphasis on assessment, therapeutic communication, neurobiological and psychosocial theories, pharmacology, and current practices related to the care of the mentally ill. Interventions focus on aspects of care to include professional communication, patient and family teaching, review of community resources, and practical application in various clinical settings.
Sample Answer
Introduction
Mental health establishes enormous economic and social weight on the health sector thus demands the need of productive and life-long interventions. A key ingredient in ensuring good psychology is mental nursing practice. Insufficient health nursing services, physical activities, and exercise will see many people suffer mental problems such as anxiety or poor immunity. 10-20% of young people experience mental problems globally meaning inadequate mental health services resulting to poor social and psychological life (World Health Organization, 2014; WHO, 2017). Good mental health means being mentally fit. This essay critically analyzes how changes in mental health nursing influence clinical and psychosocial outcomes for young people.
Effect of Change on Clinical & Psychosocial Outcomes
Background Information
Mental health in human involves psychological, emotional and social well-being which affects the way they reason, perceive things and react in an attempt to cope with life (HealthInfoNet, 2017). Also, mental health influences the ability to make decisions, socialize and manage stress conditions. From puerility stages to maturity, mental health is of importance in achieving a productive life (Buhler, 2013; Greenfield, 2014). Young people experience mood and behavioral changes, loss of interest and impaired judgment due to severe mental disorders. These psychological disorders may occur due to several factors such as biology, genetics, and inheritance within families. Additionally, multiple episodes of life experiences such as bullying, anxiety, insecurity, poverty or poor maternal care significantly influence healthy mental development (Goodell, Druss, Walker & MAT, 2011). Despite the fact that mental disorders are a common scenario in young people, better treatments methods are resulting from the continuous changes in the health sector. Mental problems are experienced everywhere today. In Britain, many people suffer from depression and anxiety problems. Another disorder though highly treatable is the schizophrenia. It is an acute mental disorder affecting the mind and brain. These illnesses have adverse effects such as low self-esteem, suicide, nervousness and self-harm (WHO, 2014).
Mental Illnesses and Change Impacts
Over 15% of young people suffer from mental illnesses globally with an estimation of 43% being at the youthful stage (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006). Over the last two decades, the population of young people experiencing mental disorders has increased to 75%, a drastic increase in psychiatric patients’ number (CDC, 2006). Such crises cannot be adequately addressed in the community settings. Subsequently, in-patients’ units have overcrowded, a scenario showing the health situation in young people in the communities. Knowing that mental health nursing is quite a challenging task, health practitioners have put in place strategic plans to combat the issue, for example, modern test tools and techniques, early intervention and treatment, personalized care, education and training on mental health care, job satisfaction and administrative assistance. Studies by Zschucke, Gaudlitz, and Ströhle (2013) shows that health support and the environmental organization gets a linkage from social reinforcement, education, nursing experience, excellent nurse retention, change in nurses’ attitude and better nurse-patient outcomes. Some acute changes occur during and following bouts of physical exercise with many life-long adaptations related to regular body exercise depending on physiological and neurochemical levels. There are neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects resulting from normalized diminished levels of brain-derived neurotrophic effects associated with workouts.
Reduced anxiety levels and negative emotions in young people have been achieved through augmenting physical exercises (Zschucke et al., 2013; Morgan et al., 2013). People who actively involve themselves in physical activity less suffer psychological stress compared to them who infrequently engaged themselves. Hence, raises perceived frontiers and minimal profiting from physical activities. Meta-analyses show that acute and chronic mental illness interventions lead to decreased anxiety and psychophysiological correlates of stress. Several anxiety mitigation strategies employed reduces stress among youths who experience better cognitive and behavioral outcomes, especially when aerobic and anaerobic exercises are incorporated. Engaging young people exhibiting panic attacks in the running diminishes disease symptoms and as a result improved mental fitness and health. Endured training is significantly different in youths even though some show positive responses thereby enhancing blood flow, body activeness and attention (Bannink, 2014).
Through these changes in mental health nursing practice and delivery, ranging from treatment, intervention strategies, policy frameworks and campaign on healthy populations, young people have shown an enhanced physiological, social, emotional and biopsychological benefits. Mental health nursing practice and delivery are thus of significance in achieving emotional, intellectual and spiritual developments, healthy interpersonal relationships, adaptation to stress, personalized care, and management of health conditions with improved reasoning. Additionally, young people develop more confidence, socialization skills, planning and learning skills desirable for a healthy and productive life (WHO, 2014). Despite the improved nursing services and personalized care systems, there is still an increase in the number of people suffering from mental disorders. It is, therefore, crucial to conduct more research on mental health, amend policies and improve health care management. Additionally, retention of health care providers remains a challenge as they are usually working in shifts offering services at various points such as schools, hospitals, and communities. However, a change in attitude by the clinicians has seen many victims receive better health education, care, and treatment that has propelled social and psychological improvements (Wahass, 2005; Campbell & Milbourne, 2005).
