University Nursing Reflective Essay: Mental Health in Older Persons

This reflective essay, written by a nursing student, explores the complexities of mental health nursing with a focus on older adults. The essay delves into the importance of reflective practice, highlighting the evolution of understanding mental disorders from historical perspectives to modern medical advancements. It discusses the impact of environmental factors like stress on brain functionality and the associated risk factors for mental health issues in the elderly, including genetic inheritance and trauma. The author reflects on their personal growth in the field, acknowledging initial judgmental attitudes and the development of empathy and patience. The essay also emphasizes the crucial role of supportive skills, such as effective communication and therapeutic interventions, in providing holistic care. Key principles like promoting dignity, maintaining safety, and ensuring equal treatment are discussed. Finally, the essay underscores the need for nurses to embody values such as compassion, competence, and commitment in their practice, ultimately aiming to provide efficient and professional mental health care.

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Reflective Essay On Mental Health- Nursing

Reflective Essay On Mental Health- Nursing
Introduction
Reflective process in nursing practice is essential in ensuring that the right skills are
learnt and inco-operated into practice. In this reflective essay, I have highlighted my
reflection in older person’s mental health nursing practice and knowledge in patho
physiology of nursing health towards provision of care. This reflective essay outlays my
nursing skills in health care practice and supportive skills which are key in nursing practice
towards elderly care with health diseases.
Knowledge of patho physiology
The knowledge and overview of older person’s mental disorders and brain diseases
have been in the public domain as early as the ancient Greek philosophers and historical
physicians. In the past majority of doctors and laypersons held the belief that mental
disorders were caused by demonic powers. This led to emergence of theories of cessation,
later more advanced views were developed and medical practice led to development of
introduction of medications with less punitive symptoms. Being in the 20th century as a
nursing student, these medical therapies introduced and advanced have brought positive
effects on the management of mental health diseases such as schizophrenia and seizure
conditions (Mirsky & Duncan 2005).
As medical knowledge advanced, I have realised that older person’s exposure to
various components of environment have influence on the brain functionality. Exposure to
factors such as stress has been found to have influence on regulation of hypothalamic pituary
adrenal hormones in the brain. In my scope of knowledge and adequate research gained, I
have understood that having long exposures of long lasting stressing factors often diminishes
mental health and raises the vulnerability older person’s mental disorders (Karim 2013).
Thus risks factors often associated with older person’s mental health include genetic
inheritance which can be attributed to parental depression in the earlier stages of life and
adverse effects of life events and usage of excessive drugs in depression state, trauma, and
family separation and anxiety conditions (Pillemer et al. 2010). Advance knowledge has put
psychiatric disorders to include impulse and emotional control conditions. Studies done have
linked common traits to major psychiatric disorders which include autism, ADHD, bipolar
disorders, depressive states and schizophrenia disorders (Catherine 2013) in elderly care
practice. This knowledge of path physiology is thus crucial for me in ensuring that I
understand my role well in practice while I am handling mental state of older persons in care
management process.
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Reflective Essay On Mental Health- Nursing
My reflection on my nursing skill towards metal health patients
My commitment to nursing profession has had a fair share of experiments. Mental
health nursing is often one of the undergraduate courses in nursing practice. The challenging
context often displays itself and leaves few professionals in the service. Currently many older
people suffer chronic mental health, thus raising the prevalence levels and the need for
trained nurses is critical (Melinda & Barbara 2016). In my practice I have found challenging
experiences when dealing with stigma which is often associated with older person’s health
state. In practice progress I often feel empathy for the older person’s patients and offer care to
them.
In my clinical experience I have learn t many skills which class work engagements
have taught me. Often many elderly patients feel stigmatised with the disease condition
(Crenshaw, Hale & Harper 2011). As a way of my coping style I have learnt not to be
judgemental but rather to be patient with them. I have tried to take time with them to be able
to understand their personality and psychiatric disorder. My previous experience was that I
used to judge them harshly and condemn them however the skills which I have developed
and learnt has enabled me to ensure that I change my perspective in older persons care for
mental health. Changing of my perspective in this nursing experience is crucial for me to
become a successful in managing older person’s mental health state as a nurse and to ensure
safety and safe practices for my patients (Carlson 2013).
Supportive skills for mental health patients
My supportive skill towards older persons in mental health nursing is to ensure that
they receive supportive therapy. This is an advanced approach in elderly care nursing which
involves treatment model for patients. Supportive therapy for mental health patients
incorporate a mix of several aspects of care all delivered to patients, (Schulz & Martire
2004). It involves various aspects which are geared towards centralizing care for patients.
Developing effective communication framework in handling mental health student is
crucial in therapeutic interventions among mental health patients, (Levinson , Lesser &
Epstein 2010). Knowledge and interpersonal skills involved for a mental health nurse is
aimed at ensuring that a nurse is able to communicate critical aspects of care and helping
older persons who are distressed and offer facilitation in offering positive nurse-client
relationship, (Mercer & Reynolds 2002). Thus as older person’s mental health nurse there is
need to ensure that I use wide variety of effective communication and engagement skills
among the elderly patients and their care givers (Henwood 2012).
The common key principles which I think are essential in nursing practice include,
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Reflective Essay On Mental Health- Nursing
identify key signs and distresses of older persons mental health, understanding the
importance of good mental and well being , promoting dignity of the patience and respecting
them, maintaining safety and safeguarding principles of care and ensuring equal treatment for
the mental health patients.
As a health care nurse dealing with older persons mental health patients, there is need
for a variety of skills which include; observation, psychosocial and interpersonal
communication to be entrenched in my personal practice. To aid, this there is need for
problem solving techniques, good judgement skills and offering advices to the caregivers on
how to manage the patients (Skills for care 2011).
Finally critical skills concerning nursing values and behaviours are essential. As a nurse
I need to ensure that the right values and behaviours become part of my nursing practice. The
values relating to behavioural practice include care, compassion, competence levels, courage
and commitment to mental health nursing practice (Tadd et al. 2011).
Conclusion
Thus as a mental health nurse knowledge of patho physiology process of older persons
mental care nursing is to ensure that I practice my skills efficiently and professionally.
Having rich content and understanding the patho physiology process in my health care
practice is needed to ensure that effective care is provided to the patients. Developing critical
nursing skills is essential in ensuring that older person’s mental health are adequately taken
cared for and managed. Care process thus will not be complete without incorporation of
supportive skills which are geared towards ensuring that nursing care is achieved for the
elderly.
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Reflective Essay On Mental Health- Nursing
References
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Reflective Essay On Mental Health- Nursing
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