Specialty areas of practice
Psychiatric / mental health nursing
What is psychiatric nursing (mental health nursing)?
Psychiatric Nursing (Mental Health Nursing) is an exciting and challenging nursing speciality. Psychiatric nurses treat and care for people with mental illness and disorders.
Psychiatric nurses offer a range of clinical interventions aimed at promoting the individual's well being, aiding them in their recovery from illness and enhancing their capacity to participate in community life. Interventions commonly undertaken include mental health assessments, case management, ongoing monitoring of the client's mental state, well-being and treatment needs; delivery of treatment, therapy, advocacy, rehabilitation and support services in collaboration with other service providers. They play an important role in supervising and monitoring medications prescribed to the client.
Psychiatric nurses work in a variety of settings, including acute in-patient units, residential and non-residential rehabilitation programs, community-based teams including crisis intervention, emergency departments, the forensic system, training and education and the private sector. They generally work as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists and others.
How do I become a psychiatric nurse?
After completing a Bachelor of Nursing Degree, registered nurses (Division 1) wishing to work as mental health nurses can apply to mental health care providers such as hospitals.
Nurses employed in the public mental health sector are encouraged and supported to undertake a Graduate Year Program or a postgraduate course in mental health nursing.
Registered nurses (Division 2) wishing to work in mental health are encouraged to complete the post basic module in mental health nursing available through TAFE colleges and other registered training providers.
Why should I complete post-graduate studies in psychiatric nursing?
Graduates of comprehensive nursing undergraduate courses are eligible and encouraged to practice in the mental health field, postgraduate qualifications are widely considered to be an advantage as they further equip nurses for specialist mental health practice.
Mental health knowledge and skills are highly valued by the community, employers and colleagues alike, irrespective of the practice setting in which a nurse chooses to work.
What will my employment opportunities be?
Employment opportunities for psychiatric nurses exist both in the public and private sectors and in rural, regional and metropolitan areas. Speciality training in psychiatric nursing develops skills that are transferable to industry, schools, courts, local communities and hospitals. The clinical pathway in psychiatric nursing can include Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Adult Mental Health Services, Aged Persons Mental Health Services, Forensic Services and a range of other specialist areas. Career paths can include the fields of Clinical Practice, Education, Research, Clinical Consultancy and Management.
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