what would my job be as a mental health nurse?
Asked by essence
like what would i do? just give out medication and stuff? i'm really clueless on this stuff but i have to write a paper from the perspective of a mental health nurse working in a mental health hospital. so help me out! (: 10 pts for best answer

Best Answer:
Give medications Give showers to those who cannot bathe themselves. Shave them... it is not a good idea to trust the men with razors. Escort them to appointments with dentists, doctors, whoever. Occasionally, the team will have to take down a patient who becomes violent. Escort the patients to the dining area if it is off your floor and stay with them until the meal is finished. Set up the meals for those who do not leave the floor. You may have to feed some of the patients. Make beds.... yes, nurses have to do some of the grunt work. Write an entry in the patient's chart for each patient every day if you are the charge nurse. Take off medication orders from the doctors and transfer them to the med administration record. Do whatever treatments the patient may need ----dressing changes, cleaning out ears, foot soaks, whatever. Spend time talking with the patients, playing board games, taking them for walks, anything to break up the monotony. Some things you do NOT do! ! ! ! Let your keys jangle and/or do not otherwise make a show of letting the patients know that you are in control. This is considered to be punishment. Do not antagonize patients---you may get hurt. Do not talk to your friends about vacations, picnics or parties,etc on your day off. This is considered punishing the patients. Do not wear a necklace or any sort of cord around your neck; this could get you strangled. Do not give out your address or phone number. If you work on a psych ward, you may wish to have your phone unlisted. Also very important--- Do not try to convince patients that their hallucinations are not real and their delusions are false. Doing so will only agitate them. Many patients will, in their own minds, revert back to a time in their lives when they were more comfortable and happier. Older women may believe themselves to be young brides, or mothers with very young children. Older men will be....well, boys will be boys. Years ago, there was a constant emphasis on "reality orientation". It never worked, and accomplished nothing except to make the patients, confused and angry. Mental health workers are finally starting to see the light, so reality orientation is not used much any more. Or at least should not be used.
Three and a half years as an RN in a psych unit. email me if you wish to do so.
Answered by John Reid

-You Willhelp them to have their medican -When they are running away you have to chase them - you will spend time with them and talk -some times you have to keep them busy -Hellp the doctors -make sure they are asleep on time
Answered by Angel Q