Mental Health Nursing: Reflective Blog Responses with APA Referencing

This assignment comprises responses to three blog posts related to mental health nursing, particularly within a clinical setting. The responses address challenges such as managing caseloads, paperwork, and the mental well-being of nurses. Each response incorporates insights from recent articles, cited using APA style, to provide evidence-based perspectives and suggestions for improvement. The first response focuses on balancing patient care with administrative tasks, referencing the importance of maintaining records for legal and ethical reasons. The second addresses the mental stress experienced by nurses, advocating for self-care and prioritizing personal well-being. The third highlights the importance of time management and self-relaxation techniques to reduce stress and compassionate fatigue, suggesting the development of mental health in-service programs to improve the perspectives of nursing professionals and patients. The assignment demonstrates an understanding of the challenges faced by mental health nurses and offers practical, evidence-based solutions.

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Mental health nursing
Name of the student
University name
Author’s note

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MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Table of Contents
Response to first blog:............................................................................................................2
References..................................................................................................................................3
Response to second blog:.......................................................................................................4
References..................................................................................................................................5
Response to third blog:...........................................................................................................6
References..................................................................................................................................7

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MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Response to first blog:
Hello! Dear friend,
I have gone through your post and found it very interesting. I can relate with the
dilemmas that you have faced within your clinical setup dealing with patients suffering from
schizophrenia and manic depressions. Like you have discussed that you have prioritised the
two C’s which are – chronology and caseload. I agree with your view of managing some time
better in between the patient visits. As mentioned by Townsend & Morgan (2017), the goal is
to strike an effective balance between caring for patient and managing paperwork. However,
maintaining a report for an untoward incident can also help in avoiding legal and ethical
complications (Smith & Grant, 2016). It also helps in the settlement of ethical issues with
regards to treatment and diagnosis of a patient, who has been admitted under questionable
grounds.

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References
Smith, S., & Grant, A. (2016). The corporate construction of psychosis and the rise of the
psychosocial paradigm: emerging implications for mental health nursing. Nurse
education today, 39, 22-25.
Townsend, M. C., & Morgan, K. I. (2017). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of
care in evidence-based practice. FA Davis, 55-75.

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MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Response to second blog:
Hello! Friend,
I have read your post and empathise with the mental stress that you have to go
through to keep up with your job. I believe most of the times the pressure of the job gets over
us which de-motivates us from performing well. The only way you can cope up with the
same is by practising mental self defence. One of the suggestions which I can provide you is
placing your physical and mental well being over the caseloads. As commented by Oates,
Drey & Jones (2017), a person who is not in the best of physical and mental health cannot
look after effectively after the patients either. As mentioned by Powell, Mabry & Mixer
(2015), we need to work in accordance with the responses provided by our minds based upon
the present health situation and environmental stimulus.

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MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
References
Oates, J., Drey, N., & Jones, J. (2017). ‘Your experiences were your tools’. How personal
experience of mental health problems informs mental health nursing practice. Journal
of psychiatric and mental health nursing, 24(7), 471-479.
Powell, K. R., Mabry, J. L., & Mixer, S. J. (2015). Emotional intelligence: A critical
evaluation of the literature with implications for mental health nursing
leadership. Issues in mental health nursing, 36(5), 346-356.

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MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
Response to third blog:
Dear friend,
I have read your post and I have found it very impressive on your part where you have
been managing time well in between your nursing care activities. Some of these self
relaxation activities have been seen to reduce the amount of stress within the nursing
professional working in a mental healthcare set up (Al‐Zayyat & Al‐Gamal, 2014). As
commented by Mårtensson, Jacobsson & Engström (2014), compassionate fatigue has also
been associated with handling and management of complex patients in mental care ward.
Therefore, mental health of the nurses should also be taken into consideration as a positive
work life balance can help in providing quality care (Gunasekara, Pentland, Rodgers &
Patterson, 2014). Therefore, I believe development of a mental health in –service program
can help in changing the perspective of the nursing professional as well as the aboriginal and
Torres islander patients admitted to the ward.

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References
Al‐Zayyat, A. S., & Al‐Gamal, E. (2014). Perceived stress and coping strategies among
Jordanian nursing students during clinical practice in psychiatric/mental health
courses. International journal of mental health nursing, 23(4), 326-335.
Gunasekara, I., Pentland, T., Rodgers, T., & Patterson, S. (2014). What makes an excellent
mental health nurse? A pragmatic inquiry initiated and conducted by people with
lived experience of service use. International Journal of Mental Health
Nursing, 23(2), 101-109.
Mårtensson, G., Jacobsson, J. W., & Engström, M. (2014). Mental health nursing staff's
attitudes towards mental illness: an analysis of related factors. Journal of psychiatric
and mental health nursing, 21(9), 782-788.