Nursing the Troubled Mind
The statistics are staggering: It is estimated that seven million girls in the United States battle eating disorders--approximately one in every 100 young women. Recovery from this mental illness is a long process, one that calls on the compassion and training found in a nursing program that specializes in psychological treatment. While it is often assumed that a nursing job treats only physical ailments, such as broken limbs or chest pain, there is also a tremendous need for nurses with the energy and skill to provide psychological nursing as well.
Nursing School
Working with mentally ill patients can be an extremely rewarding nursing job; patients seeking treatment can range from the very young to the very old. All bring with them diverse stories and specific needs. Nursing school offers courses in psychiatric care and valuable fieldwork in hospitals or community centers that can foster the nursing experience required. In addition to a psychiatric nursing program, it is also invaluable to have a few essential abilities:Personal Touch
Nursing can provide patients with a more personalized level of clinical care, providing compassion and attentiveness during their stay at a hospital or treatment center. For patients struggling with mental illness, nurses play a critical role in establishing a relationship of trust between the caregivers and the patient. Regardless of the type of nursing job you perform, it is a profession that blends advanced medical knowledge with a keen sensitivity to the well-being of the patient.Sources:
Developing interpersonal relationships with adolescents with anorexia nervosa
Statistics: How Many People Have an Eating Disorder?
Nurse: Mental Health Branch
About the Author
Marianne Salina is a freelance writer in Spokane, Washington. She has a B.A. in Literature and Creative Writing from UC Santa Cruz and writes about various educational pursuits as a First Stop Online Degree Columnist.
