NURS6055: Mental Health Nurse's Role in Physical Assessment

This report delves into the crucial role of mental health nurses in the physical assessment of patients within acute inpatient care settings. It highlights the significant health disparities faced by individuals with severe mental illness compared to the general population, emphasizing the need for mental health nurses to actively address physical health concerns. The report examines the importance of improved communication between healthcare services, including clarifying responsibilities for patient care, and the implementation of wellbeing support programs to enhance the physical health outcomes of patients. It references academic research that underscores the knowledge gap in this area and advocates for further research to establish definitive guidelines for mental health nurses' involvement in physical assessment and care. The report emphasizes the impact of mental health nurses in bridging the gap in patient care and improving overall patient wellbeing.

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH NURSE’S ROLE IN PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
Role of mental health nurses in acute inpatient care settings in terms of physical assessment.
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1MENTAL HEALTH NURSE’S ROLE IN PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
It has been well established by the academic researchers that individuals suffering
from severe mental illness has worse physical health condition when comparing to the
general population (Blythe & White, 2012). Many researches have been devoted in this
regard and it has been reported that there is a knowledge gap in the area of mental health
nurses’ role with regard to physical health care (Chadwick et al., 2012). There are various
role that can be undertaken by the mental health nurses in this regard. One of this role is to
improve communication between health care services (Blythe & White, 2012). Information
should also be communicated among the different health care settings about who is primarily
responsible for the patient’s physical health needs. Another role would be to provide well-
being support programme to the suffering mental health patients. Studies have shown that the
well- being support programme has been able to improve the physical health conditions on
the patients with severe mental illness and has a progressive impact on their health (Blythe &
White, 2012). Hence, the mental nurses should consider setting up a well- being support
programme. However, knowledge gap is present in this area and further research is need for a
definitive guidelines in this aspect.

2MENTAL HEALTH NURSE’S ROLE IN PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
References:
Blythe, J., & White, J. (2012). Role of the mental health nurse towards physical health care in
serious mental illness: An integrative review of 10 years of UK
literature. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 21(3), 193-201.
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 mental illness on barriers to accessing physical health care. International
Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 21(3), 211-219.