The Role of Mental Health Nurses in Physical Healthcare

The assignment examines the role of mental health nurses in providing physical healthcare to patients with mental illness. It discusses the importance of physical healthcare for this population, the training needs of mental health nurses, and the challenges they face in delivering high-quality care. The document also explores the use of modern technology and effective caseload management to enhance work performance and resolve conflicts.

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Blog responses
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Blog response 1
Accurate physical assessment is an essential part of clinical practice, and helps to
distinguish between normal and abnormal health findings. Performing a physical assessment of
all patients is a major role of healthcare practitioners (Birks, Cant, James, Chung & Davis, 2013).
Research evidences have recognized the presence of co-morbidities in mentally ill patients that
makes physical stabilization of utmost importance (Hendrie et al., 2013). Furthermore, medical
acronyms have been found to facilitate the conduction of such physical assessments for
improving the health of a patient.
References
Birks, M., Cant, R., James, A., Chung, C., & Davis, J. (2013). The use of physical assessment
skills by registered nurses in Australia: Issues for nursing education. Collegian, 20(1),
27-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2012.02.004
Hendrie, H. C., Lindgren, D., Hay, D. P., Lane, K. A., Gao, S., Purnell, C., ... & Callahan, C. M.
(2013). Comorbidity profile and healthcare utilization in elderly patients with serious
mental illnesses. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 21(12), 1267-1276.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2013.01.056
Blog response 2
It is the duty of mental health nurses to plan and provide medical care and support to their
clients, suffering from a range of mental illness (Happell, Scott, Platania‐Phung & Nankivell,
2012). Research evidences have established an association between the role of nursing education
and skill training to improve the overall health and patient outcomes (Happell, Platania-Phung &

2MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Scott, 2013). Moreover, there exist a range of lifestyle programs that have shown benefits in
training and educating nurses, working in the mental health context.
References
Happell, B., Platania-Phung, C., & Scott, D. (2013). Physical health care for people with mental
illness: Training needs for nurses. Nurse Education Today, 33(4), 396-401.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2013.01.015
Happell, B., Scott, D., Platania‐Phung, C., & Nankivell, J. (2012). Should we or shouldn't we?
Mental health nurses' views on physical health care of mental health
consumers. International journal of mental health nursing, 21(3), 202-210.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0349.2011.00799.x
Blog response 3
According to several research findings, the fact has been confirmed that mental disorders
are frequently co-morbid with a plethora of physical illnesses. Studies have identified the co-
occurrence of several mental disorders with associated physical conditions (Chadwick, Street,
McAndrew & Deacon, 2012). Furthermore, the pragmatic tool Mental Health Improvement
Profile has proved successful in enabling mental health nurses to screen patient’s physical health
status (White, Gray, Swift, Barton & Jones, 2011). Another major role of nurses encompass their
responsibility of advocating for the rights and demands of mentally ill patients.
References
Chadwick, A., Street, C., McAndrew, S., & Deacon, M. (2012). Minding our own bodies:
Reviewing the literature regarding the perceptions of service users diagnosed with serious

3MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
mental illness on barriers to accessing physical health care. International Journal of
Mental Health Nursing, 21(3), 211-219. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-
0349.2011.00807.x
White, J., Gray, R. J., Swift, L., Barton, G. R., & Jones, M. (2011). The serious mental illness
health improvement profile [HIP]: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled
trial. Trials, 12(1), 167. https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-12-167
Blog response 4
The major C-zones of potential grief include chronology, allocated paper works and
maintaining a diary of reflective for an effective clinical practice. Use of modern technology,
effective caseload management and balance maintenance enhance the work performance.
Moreover, conflict management and regular feedbacks also exert a flexibility in a healthy clinical
practice (Salter & Turner, 2008).
One major C-zone that I found challenging was handling of my coworkers. There was
dissatisfaction among the nurse working in night shifts regarding their workload. The changes
that I should bring about include fostering a direct communication with workers, understanding
their demands and respond to them with dignity for resolving such conflicts.
In order to become a political animal I will appreciate the importance of opinions and
identify the key players in the organization. I will solicit advise and information as needed. My
activities include conducting myself professionally with my co-workers, bosses and clients and
taking attempts to resolve conflicts and disputes. I also embrace the political reality of my
organization. The direct benefit is associated with the help it provides in determining my
ultimate success. It also makes me contributes positively to the organization.

4MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
References
Salter, M., & Turner, T. (2008). Community mental health care: a practical guide to outdoor
psychiatry. Elsevier Health Sciences. Retrieved from- https://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=2sa2LUCEOgYC&oi=fnd&pg=PT7&dq=Salter,+M.,+%26+Turner,+T.
+(2008).+Staying+alive+-+you,+the+care+worker.
+In+Community+Mental+Health+Care:
+A+practical+guide+to+outdoor+psychiatry+&ots=MVoENUeddX&sig=agLrauVwEOc
G9qA6T9dVpcILYes#v=onepage&q&f=false