Useful tips for psychiatric nurses for assessment of patients
Useful tips for psychiatric nurses for assessment of patients
Assessment of patients, or the understanding of the patient
especially in connection with the disease or ailment, assumes special
significance in psychiatric nursing, because the responsibility of a
psychiatric nurse is not mere care and assistance for curing the disease, as in
other cases, but the wholesome care of the patient and restoring normalcy to
the patient.The patients requiring
psychiatric treatment are generally insane or have some sort of mental disorder
and restoring normalcy or near normalcy becomes the ultimate challenge for a
psychiatric nurse.
Assessment of the patient, his or her feelings, behavior,
attitude, characteristics, mental state and awareness and all such things, gain
paramount importance in psychiatric nursing, as these details, though trivial
as it may look, provide important clues for formulating the nursing process,
diagnosis and evaluation of the course of treatment for the patient as a whole.
Active participation of the patient in the treatment process
is essential in psychiatric nursing and invariably requires an extended stay of
the patients at the hospital or specialty care centers.
As part of the assessment of the patient, the following
details need to be recorded:
The
perception of the patient with regard to the facilities in the hospital,
the services rendered and the general atmosphere available in the center
needs to be ascertained and recorded
General
strength of the patient, as perceived by him or her and explained to the
psychiatric nurse as part of the therapeutic communication should find
place in the assessment.In
addition, psychiatric nurse's view about patient's strength can also be
included.
The
assessment record should include the perception of the disease from the
patient's point of view and howhe
or she copes with the disease. In other words, the efforts put in by the
patient to deal with the present ailment or disease needs to be recorded.
Information
about the patient's family, the background and historical patterns of
behavior in the family members needs to be recorded by gathering
information from the patient and his or her close relatives or family
members interested in the cure of the patient
Appearance,
cultural background and the primary language of the patient
Habits
of the patient that include addictions, if any, for smoking, drinking or
chewing tobacco or such other things
Level
of memory of the patient – such as recent memory and remote memories, as
well as orientation of the patient – the place of residence and living
Complete
and comprehensive details of the patient's physical systems, as well as
nutrition problems, allergies and such other medical issues, if any
Details
related to suicidal thoughts, perceptions of hallucinations or delusions,
aggression or such other thoughts should also be noted as part of the
assessment.
Relationship
with family members, present living conditions, communication skills,
cognition levels, mood related issues should also find a place in the Assessment
Present
standard of living, income earning capability and remuneration, value
systems in life, hobbies, interests and spiritual affinity should also be
recorded in the assessment form.
Some of the details recorded by the psychiatric nurse might
look trivial, but they are essential for further treatment and preparation of
nursing plans and diagnosis in association and co-operation of the patient.