Mental Health: Interpersonal Skills, Symptoms, Clinical Interventions and Medication Information

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH 1
Mental Health
Name
Institution

MENTAL HEALTH 2
Mental Health
Key Interpersonal Skills
The ability of a nurse to effectively communicate with a patient is crucial in ensuring a
successful patient-nurse relationship. Nurses need to possess good interpersonal skills to help
them in interacting and communicating with their patients. The environment of healthcare can be
so demanding at times due to how busy every practitioner can get, and this can create stress and
agitation. It is therefore important that physicians equip themselves with advanced interpersonal
skills in order to address any misunderstanding that may arise during an interview with the
patient (Bach & Grant, 2015). In this section, we aim to discuss some of the key interpersonal
skills that a nurse should possess when interviewing a patient like Barry.
One of the vital interpersonal skills that a nurse should possess is good communication
skills. The outcomes of an interview depend on good communication between the nurse and
his/her patient. Good communication skills involve a physician encouraging open
communication which ensures that the nurse obtains complete information (Ross, 2012).
Additionally, open communication enhances the possibility of a better diagnosis and also
facilitates accurate counseling. This may eventually improve adherence to plans of treatment
thus leading to long-term health benefits. Open communication increases the involvement of the
patient in their healthcare through the building of consensus and negotiation with the nurse.
Another interpersonal skill that is important in the nursing profession is the ability to
listen. Good listening skills enable the nurse to understand the cues spoken by the patient and
their family. This, in turn, helps the nurse to determine the patient’s needs that help to ensure an
accurate and successful diagnosis (Stein-Parbury, 2013). Additionally, listening gives the patient

MENTAL HEALTH 3
the motivation to open up about their condition because they have the confidence that the nurse
is willing to listen to all their problems and thus improving diagnosis.
Interpersonal skills are very important when interviewing patients with similar conditions
to Barry. These skills help to build confidence and to facilitate effective communication with
their patients. Good interactions improve the process of diagnosis and ensure that the most
accurate results are obtained, thus improving patient care. As a result, the adherence to the plan
of treatment is improved for the benefit of the patient’s health. The above discussed interpersonal
skills will thus ensure a successful interview with Barry, which will be crucial in assessing his
condition and recommending the most appropriate medication.
Signs and Symptoms of Mental Health Disorder
Mental health disorder can be described as a condition that may cause mild or severe
disturbances in behaviors and thoughts which may eventually result in an inability of an
individual to cope with the normal routines and demands of life (Elder, Evans & Nizette, 2008).
This condition is not as rare as some people may choose to believe. In fact, it is common and
affects approximately 54 million Americans annually at least to some extent (Reeves et al.,
2011). Some of the common conditions that may be associated with a mental disorder include
dementia, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression among others. Some of the symptoms
of mental health disorder may include social withdrawal and changes in mood (Fontaine, 2009).
In this section, we will discuss some of the symptoms displayed by Barry that could justify the
possibility of a mental health disorder.
From Barry’s scenario, we notice that he seems restless, anxious and is always looking
around. Feeling anxious could be normal but it could also be a sign of mental health illness if it is