Recovery in Mental Health Nursing: Principles and Application

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Mental Health Nursing
Name of student:
Name of university:
Author note:

1MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Question 1
Meaning of recovery in mental healthcare or mental health nursing and three principle
tenets
While there exists no particular definition for recovery in the context of mental healthcare
or mental health nursing, recovery is to be perceived as the ability to establish and live a
contributing and meaningful life in the absence or presence of noted mental health concerns. The
notion of recovery, in context of mental health, had been developed for the people, and by the
people suffering from mental health conditions. The aim was to describe the experiences and
perceptions of these individuals for affirming personal identity crossing the limitations set by the
mental health diagnosis (health.gov.au 2013). In continuation, it is mentioned that recovery
approach to mental health puts focus on the potential for achieving recuperation and
revitalization from mental health concerns. Recovery is perceived as the process through which
the personal journey of the individual is made better as indicated through a strong sense of self
and a secured base. Moreover, recovery considers symptoms of mental health issues as the
‘continuum of the norm’ instead of an abnormality. Some of the noted features of recovery are
that it is a personal unique journey; it is a fundamental human process; the process is non-linear;
and it is an ongoing procedure.
According to Fortinash and Worret (2014) recovery oriented mental healthcare
approaches ensure that a transformative conceptual framework is enabled for care delivery
within the provision of health service. For ensuring the individuals are to undergo the process of
recovery, the insights and lived experiences of the individuals suffering from mental health
illness are to be placed at the center of the care culture. Recovery-oriented approaches delivered

2MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
through the professionals are to appreciate the lived experiences that individuals have and apply
their skills and knowledge for establishing close relationship with them. Further, approaches
targeting recovery must break the barriers of traditional concepts and conventional demarcation
existing between staff and consumers. The recovery paradigm entails that all individuals being
given care are shown dignity and their privacy is respected in relation to the strengths they
exhibit.
Recovery, when studies from the standpoint of an individual experiencing mental illness,
means receiving and preserving hope, personal autonomy, knowledge of the disabilities and
abilities, and social indentify. A person therefore develops a positive sense of self. Recovery is
linked to both external conditions facilitating recovery and internal conditions that the person
experiences, such a healing, hope and empowerment (Le Boutillie et al. 2015). According to
Camman (2010) recovery in context of mental health care is to be referred to as the process
involving personal decision making in diverse areas. It is noted that mental health nurses are in a
position to provide assistance to patients for developing mental health on the basis of a thorough
assessment. Individuals can be guided to engage in effective decision making in relation to
integration of healthy behaviours through the utilization of motivational interviewing processes,
varied assessment tools and recovery planning techniques.