How to Become a Psychiatric Nurse

Introduction

A psychiatric nurse takes care of mentally ill patients or those who are suffering from mental disorder. As a specialised profession, you can also provide support to those who are suffering from stress, trauma, abuse, or other emotional difficulties. These patients may be having mental issues due to their working environment, homes, or health care institution. It’s an emotionally-draining, yet highly rewarding job. You have the chance to reach out and make a difference in someone’s life and enable them to work past the challenges they are facing.

General Responsibilities

As a psychiatric nurse, you will be in charge of taking care of patients suffering from:

  • Depression
  • Schizophrenia
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Anxiety
  • Eating disorders
  • Drug or alcohol dependence
  • Alzheimer’s

You will be working alongside psychiatrist, psychologists, social workers and other health care professionals in order to provide the best treatment possible. Psychiatric conditions can happen to anyone. You will be exposed to treating patients in all levels of socio-economic backgrounds, cultures and religions. Although mental health awareness is increasing, the varying beliefs due to specific influences can make nursing care delivery a challenge.

Skills & Experience

You have to be keen on spotting subtle cues in various patients because no two mental illnesses are the same. You have to be flexible to change your plan of care, and responsive enough in order to know when to do so. This means you have to be detail-oriented and have good judgement.

You should have great communication skills. You will be talking to patients as well as their family to help them understand what the patient is experiencing. Firm patient advocacy is a must in some areas. There is still a lack of awareness when it comes to mental health disorders, and these patients are often marginalized in communities. Skills for mental health promotion and prevention will come in handy for this situation.

You also need skills for mental health assessment and intervention. And you will need to know how to administer psychotherapeutic drugs, as well as skills in direct nursing care, patient education and training.

Qualifications

You need to have a Bachelor of Nursing degree, which you will take for 4 years. You can also take a 2-year nursing associate degree or a 2-3 year diploma course in nursing to start your nursing career. To practice psychiatric nursing, you need to undergo training in psychological therapy as well as the administration of psychiatric medications.

You can take your career a step further by becoming a clinical nurse specialist. You can earn a Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing or Graduate Diploma in Nursing, both of which can be accomplished within a year. Afterwards, you can take a Master of Nursing for Mental Health for specialisation

Salary Expectations

Psychiatric nurses earn between AU$39,000-AU$93,000 a year depending on experience and level of specialisation. Average salary falls on AU$67,407. Hourly rate is AU$24.28-AU$44.59, landing on an average of $33.96.

Who’s this role for?

Psychiatric nursing requires a great deal of strength and resilience. You should have a strong personality to overcome the different challenges in the practice. Most of the time, you will be talking to people when they are at their worst. You should have a deep level of empathy and be open and approachable.  Emotional maturity is a must so that you will be able to connect with your patients and their families.

Career Opportunities

You can work in the city including rural, regional, and remote areas. You can work in a mental health clinic, have your own private practice, or in hospitals. You could work as a psychogeriatric nurse or a psychiatric rehabilitation nurse. Your skills will also come in handy in the ER, rehabilitation centres, and even in forensics.  Care for mental illness does not end in clinics and hospitals. It continues even when the patient returns to the community.

The more you improve your skills and experience as a psychiatric nurse, the greater the option to earn. Once you hone your skills, you will have the gratification of being able to reach out to patients and their family, and improve their awareness of mental health.

Being a psychiatric nurse is an emotionally demanding profession. The evolving awareness and diagnoses if mental health conditions have made it necessary for psychiatric nurses to come forward and step up.  Taking this specialised field will challenge your mental and emotional capabilities as a nurse.