Mental Health Nursing: Addressing Consumer's Priority Goals/Issues

This article discusses the priority goals and issues in mental health nursing and provides interventions to address them. It also highlights the importance of social interaction and lifestyle changes in the recovery process.

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

1MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Consume
r Priority
Identified
Goals/Issues
The
consumer’
s strength
to address
these issues
Consumer
and Nursing
Intervention
s
Person/s
Responsible
Timeframe
Priority
1:
Reduced
social
interaction
and has
isolated
herself
completel
y from
friends
and social
gatherings
.
Issues:
HONOs
scoring level
equivalent to
4 for
depressive
mood, 4 for
occupations
and activities
and 3 for
cognitive
problems.
In close
association to
scholarly
literatures, it
has been
studied that
decreased
social
interaction
and increased
loneliness
could lead to
worsening of
the physical
health
Kate is
aware of
her reduced
social
interaction.
Kate was
referred to
the local
inpatient
clinic by
her GP and
she decided
to comply
with the
referral for
assistance.
This
suggests
that Kate is
willing to
make
positive
changes in
her life in
order to
overcome
the problem
Kate would
be referred
to
community
programs
according to
her interest
so as to
increase her
level of
social
interaction.
Kate would
be assisted
with
counselling
and would
be
encouraged
to participate
in spiritual
retreats once
a week with
her family
members.
Studies
suggest that
In order to
address the
identified care
goals, the
person’s
responsible
would include
Veronica
(Kate’s
sister), Kate’s
mother and
Jamie (Kate’s
niece) and
Kate herself.
Emotional
support from
Veronica and
Kate’s mother
would help
her participate
in the
community
programs.
Also, Kate’s
mother or
Veronica
would support
A minimum
of 8 week
time frame
would be
required for
analysing the
level of
improvement
in Kate’s
ability to
socialize as
well as
develop a
strong bond
with her
family
members.

2MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
conditions
and cause
problems such
as pain and
worsening of
existing
medical
health
conditions. It
is however
important to
note that the
client only has
a previous
medical
history of a
fractured
ankle at the
age of 21. Tis
suggests that
she is not at
an increased
risk of
worsening her
previous
medical
health
conditions but
is susceptible
to develop
other health
conditions.
that she is
presently
experiencin
g.
spiritual
retreats can
effectively
improve
social
interaction
and at the
same time
elevate mood
levels
(Sundquist et
al.,2015).
Therefore,
the rationale
for the
devised
intervention
can be
explained as
improving
the social
interaction
ability of the
client and at
the same
time foster
calmness
with respect
to disturbed
emotions.
Kate would
Kate by
managing
Jamie for the
time when she
would be
attending the
programs
thrice a week.
Also, they
would help
Kate by
agreeing to
attend retreats
together. In
addition to
this, by
complying
with the
interventions
Kate would
take the
complete
ownership of
her problem
and progress
with the
recovery
process.

3MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Reduced
social
interaction
can be
directly stated
as the cause
of feeling low
and
emotionally
down. This
places the
client at an
increased risk
of harbouring
negative
thoughts.
Goal:
Improve
social
interaction so
as to foster a
feeling of
mental
wellness
(Barth et al.,
2016)
Increase
participation
in social or
community
be made to
understand
the
improving
social
interaction
would make
her take a
step towards
the recovery.
She would
be
recommende
d to
participate in
the
community
development
program for
patients
going
through
depression.
This could
also be
referred to as
an example
of group
therapy
which would
offer her an
opportunity
to socially

4MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
gatherings so
as to help the
patient cope
with the
persisting
feelings of
distressed
feelings and
difficult
emotions
(Cristea et al.,
2015).
interact with
others who
have been
going
through a
similar
mental
health
condition as
of her (Stuart
& Koleva,
2014). This
would make
her feel
motivated to
cooperate
and continue
with the
recovery
process
(Bolier et
al.,2013). In
addition to
this,
participating
in spiritual
retreats with
her family
members
would
improve her
social
interaction

5MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
and also
strengthen
her bond
with her
family
members.
Priority
2:
Experienc
es mood
related
disturbanc
es and
exhibits
dysfunctio
nal
grieving.
Feels
unworthy
and is at
an
increased
risk of
inflicting
self-harm.
Issues:
The elevated
HONOs score
with respect
to cognitive
problems as
well as other
health
problems
suggest that
the patient is
at an
increased risk
of developing
depression
The increased
mood
disturbances
and guilt
feeling has
interfered the
ability of the
patient to
participate in
effectively in
the activities
The
positive
cooperation
from the
client in
providing
all the
necessary
medical
information
required to
diagnose
her mental
health
problem.
In addition
to this, the
client can
herself
distinguish
between her
previous
self and
present self,
which
suggests
The first
nursing
intervention
would focus
on stabilising
the mood
disturbances
of Kate. This
would be
done by the
administratio
n of mild
dosage of
Diazepam.
Studies
suggest that
Diazepam or
Valium
belongs to
the class of
benzodiazepi
nes and is
effective in
treating
symptoms of
increased
anxiety and
The persons
responsible
for addressing
the mentioned
nursing goals
would only
include, Kate.
This is
primarily
because, the
prescribed
medication
would need to
be taken
thrice a day in
accordance to
appropriate
dosage
(Cruwys et
al., 2014).
Kate would
need to be
careful with
the timings
and the dose
of the drug.
Also, in the
A minimum
of 6 months
would be
required in
order to
effectively
implement the
pharmacologi
cal as well as
the
psychotherape
utic
interventions
and
effectively
observe the
impact on the
patient to
evaluate the
process of
recovery.

6MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
of daily living
or normally
cope with the
baby.
Goals:
The first
nursing goal
while caring
for the patient
would include
the use of
pharmacologi
cal
intervention
to stabilize the
mood of the
client
The second
nursing goal
would involve
referring the
patient to a
psychotherapi
st in order to
make use of
effective
psychotherape
utic
interventions
to facilitate
recovery.
that she is
proactively
willing to
make
lifestyle
changes in
order to
recover
from her
present
condition.
mood
disturbances
(Karp,
2016). The
mechanism
of the drug
action
includes the
binding of
the drug to
the to the
micromolar
benzodiazepi
ne binding
sites. On
binding to
these sites,
the drug
serves as
calcium
channel
blocker and
prevents the
reuptake of
the calcium
ions at the
voltage gated
calcium
channel sites
(Calcaterra
& Barrow,
2014). In
addition to
this, studies
second case,
Kate would
need to
cooperate
with the
psychotherapi
st and extend
her complete
support so
that the
therapist
could study
her properly
and
accordingly
support her
with the
psychotherape
utic
interventions.

7MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
have
revealed that
Valium
promotes a
soothing
effect and
relaxes the
mood
(Calcaterra
& Barrow,
2014).
Therefore,
Kate would
be prescribed
2 mg Valium
thrice a day
in order to
promote
mood
stability.
The rationale
for the
second
nursing
intervention
of referring
to a
psychotherap
ist can be
explained as
the ability of
the
psychotherap

8MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
ist to make
use of
counselling,
cognitive
behavioural
therapies and
mindfulness
based
therapies to
facilitate
positive
recovery of
the patient
(Sanders &
Hill, 2014).
Kate would
be provided
health
literacy
about her
mental
health
condition
and would
also be
explained the
rationale for
the
prescription
of the
pharmacolog
ical
medication

9MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
and at the
same time
would also
be explained
the rationale
for seeking
the
assistance of
a
psychotherap
ist. It can be
expected that
on providing
health
literacy to
the patient,
she would be
able to relate
with the
devised
nursing
interventions
and
cooperate in
the recovery
process.
Priority
3:
The
patient is
underweig
ht and is
reported to
Issue:
Impoverished
or inadequate
nutrition has
led to weight
loss in the
Kate
mentions
that the
meals
consumed
by her are
Studies
recommend
that weight
loss is
directly
associated
The person’s
involved in
addressing the
care goal
would include
Kate, her
It can be
expected that
within a time
frame of 6
months, the
body weight

10MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
consume
snack
meals.
The case
study
reports
unhealthy
dietary
habits and
lack of
self-care.
patient. This
would lead to
the weakening
of the immune
system and
make her
vulnerable to
acquire
infections
(Jacka &
Berk, 2013).
Also, poor
nutrition
could directly
be correlated
with the
problem of
lower energy
and increased
fatigue levels
and
exhaustion in
the client.
Goals:
The nursing
goals in this
case would
include the
following:
Devise a
healthy meal
plan for the
patient.
mostly
prepared by
her sister
Veronica
and her
mother,
which
suggests
that she has
a
supportive
family.
Further,
Kate is
willing to
make
lifestyle
changes in
order to
proceed
with the
recovery
process.
with poor
health
problems
Diamond et
al. (2014). In
order to
analyse that
whether or
not Kate is at
a risk of
developing
any physical
health
disorder, a
complete
body
assessment
would be
conducted.
This would
help in
analysing the
present
medical
health
condition of
Kate.
In addition
to this Kate’s
BMI would
also be
measured so
as to develop
an
family as well
as the
dietician.
Kate’s sister
and her
mother would
be provided
counselling
and health
literacy that
would enable
them to be
aware about
the nutrition
related needs
of Kate and
accordingly
prepare meals
for her
convenience.
The dietician
on the other
hand would
list the food
preferences of
Kate and help
in drafting an
optimal
balanced meal
plan. The
dietician
would also
monitor
Kate’s body
of the client
could be
appropriately
managed.
This would
entirely
depend upon
the
cooperation
level of the
client and her
family
members
involved in
the care
process.

11MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
understandin
g about the
present
metabolic
state of the
client. The
Basal
Metabolism
Index (BMI),
would help
in estimating
the minimal
weight gain
required in
order to
optimise the
body weight
of the patient
(Jacka &
Berk, 2013).
Further, Kate
would be
referred to a
dietician,
who would
draft a
balanced
meal plan for
Kate.
Kate is
unaware of
her poor
body weight
weight and
keep a track
of her BMI.
In addition to
this, Kate
would
cooperate
with the
dietician and
accordingly
comply with
the devised
meal plan.

12MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
and feeds on
snack when
hungry. It is
important to
educate Kate
about her
poor body
weight and
referred to a
dietician so
that she
continues to
consume a
balanced
meal and
stays
healthy.
Priority
4:
The
patient
feels low
self-
esteem,
loneliness
and has
reported
feelings of
Dysphoria
and
Anhedoni
a. The
patient is
Issues:
Feelings of
low self-
esteem and
loneliness
along with
Dysphoria
and
Anhedonia
has made her
susceptible to
frequent
exhaustion
and fatigue.
The client
is
consciously
aware of
the changes
that has
created a
drastic
change in
her and has
deteriorated
the quality
of her
mental
Nursing
interventions
would
include,
conducting a
risk
assessment
so as to
ensure that a
safe
environment
is maintained
around Kate.
This would
The person’s
involved in
the care
process would
involve Kate
and her family
members who
would induce
intrinsic
motivation in
her to recover
at a speedy
rate (Sarris et
al., 2014).
A minimal
time frame of
6 months
would be
needed in
order to assess
the positive
outcome of
the devised
interventions.

13MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
unable to
cope with
the baby
and is
fatigued
most of
the times.
The
patient
finds it
extremely
difficult to
bond with
Jamie (the
baby). The
patient
also
reports to
harbour
within her
the
feelings of
suicidal
ideation,
however
does not
engage in
active
planning
of a
suicide but
wishes
passively
to have
Lower self-
esteem has
made her feel
negative
about herself
and has made
her believe
that she had
failed to prove
herself as a
good sister
and a caring
aunt.
Lower self-
esteem has
affected her
ability to
maintain or
build
relationships
which is
reflected by
the HNOs
scoring.
Further, lower
self-esteem on
account of
loss of her
dignified
position in her
workplace
that was shut
health.
The client
is aware
that she has
failed to
carry out
her
responsibili
ties as a
sister and
an aunt and
wishes to
work on
herself and
adapt
changes so
as to care
for her
family in a
better
manner.
Kate has a
close
family who
is likely to
offer
support in
her care
process.
involve
keeping the
sharp
instruments
away from
the reach of
the patient so
that she is
unable to
inflict any
self-harm
(Jacka &
Berk, 2013).
Further, a
family
centred care
approach
would be
adapted for
the recovery
process.
Family
centred
approach
involves the
family
members in
the care
process and
studies
reveal a high
success rate
in the

14MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
her life
taken
away.
down has also
added to her
distress.
The feelings
of guilt and
self-
worthlessness
has led to the
dearth of
passive
suicidal
thoughts in
her which can
lead to a fatal
outcome
(Sarris et al.,
2014).
The nursing
goals for the
patient would
include the
following:
Induce
motivation so
as to instil
optimism in
the client’s
perspective of
life
promotion of
recovery
(Valdez et
al., 2013).
In addition
to this,
administerin
g counselling
to Kate as
well as her
family
members
could help in
facilitating
recovery.
Studies
suggest that
counselling
can help in
inducing
motivation
and speed up
the process
of recovery
(Sanders &
Hill, 2014).
Involvement
of Kate’s
family
members in
the care
process

15MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Ensure a risk
free
environment
as to avoid the
risk of self-
harm or
suicidal
ideation
would
positively
direct her
recovery.

16MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
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17MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
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