Empowering Healthcare: The Role of Higher Education in Mental and Adult Health Nursing

Higher Education Analysis

Higher education plays a significant role in boosting individual expertise. In medical-related courses, higher education offers one a chance to specialize in their area of choice and gain more skills in a specific area. Globally, shortages in numbers of nurses continue to threaten the delivery of social and health care services (Clifton et al., 2018) and higher education plays a crucial role in increasing the service quality of care offered by existing teams. Specifically, a higher education course in Mental and Adult Health Nursing equips nurses with skills the enhance quality healthcare services delivery in modern health care. Individuals struggling with mental complications tend to struggle with physical wellness as they are more susceptible to health complications like cardiac problems and diabetes. Equally, adults with prolonged health conditions are prone to mental complications more so depression.

The qualifications for the Mental and Adult Health Nursing requires one to have four or five GCSEs at 9 to 4 grades (A* to C) or an equal such as science, English, and maths. Further, either 2 or 3 A levels with a science or higher education access in science, nursing, or health or a level 3 diploma are important (UCAS, 2020). According to the Scotland Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education adult nursing requires practitioners to ensure abilities show patient commitment as well as offer personalised care while understanding the need to incorporate the patient's psychological, social, spiritual, and physical needs for maximised outcomes (NHS Scotland, 2009).

UCAS Statement

I wish to apply for Mental Health Nursing to get a chance to directly assist individuals struggling with mental health complications as well as physical health issues. Interest in evaluating an area that integrates both practical and academic study assures me that the study is the best fit. My experience while studying Nursing Diploma and working as a volunteer social worker will be crucial to enabling achieve my goals.

When I volunteered as a social worker, I managed to gain notable insight on matters relating to mental health. The roles I undertook in the facility included undertaking ward rounds, care plan writing, and patient interactions with assistance from health experts. In addition, having participated in one on one and group speech therapy sessions, I have learned their impacts on different patients and appreciated the need for ensuring they are patient-centred. I wish to develop my skills and knowledge at degree level and possibly to higher levels in the future. The experience offered me a chance to understand the significance of handling people in ways that are non-judgemental and appreciating diversity among clients and colleagues with different cultural and religious beliefs. Considering the limited awareness on matters of mental health together with the limited support for the sick, I intend to use my role as a Mental Health nurse to create awareness about related complications.

Although communication breakdown is a common barrier experienced with handling mental health patients, my ability to utilize both body language and eye contact helps enable positive interaction. Patience is important, especially while working with patients showing extreme communication issues. Working hard towards identifying the best communication method for patients enhances the ease of dealing with the patients especially after they become aggressive. Documenting the patient details and complications creates good communication with other workers as the notes offer information about the patient which enhances the team working in supporting mental health patients. Social work volunteering offered skills that are critical in managing mental health patients such as medication administration including insulin, vital signs evaluation, checking blood pressure, using the catheter bag, and working with the elderly. The skills ease service delivery to individuals struggling with mental complications as well as comorbid physical health complications such as diabetes (Wu, Hsu, and Wang, 2020).

I was born and raised in London watching my parents work in health settings. Although their specialty was not mental health, I have seen heir satisfaction from helping people with health complications and more so those who are unable to express themselves due to mental complications. Interest in offering mental health patients who are less privileged in terms of ability and expression has inspired my interest in pursuing a career in the field. Although undertaking the Mental Health Nursing could present challenges of lacking platforms for practising the relevant skills such as compassion, courage in decision-making, communication abilities, commitment and compassion inpatient cases, as well as competence levels due to lack of a psychiatric facility. Nevertheless, the skills I gain will be crucial in evaluating my courage in meeting the challenges and together with my experience, I will gain the relevant expertise in handling individuals struggling with mental complications. Furthermore, my hobbies that include volunteer work, community work, and listening would position me in a better place for meeting the needs of people with mental health issues as most are confined in community institutions or psychiatric settings.

Interview Questions Guidance

1. Why do you want to become a mental health nurse?

Since childhood, I have felt compassionate to helpless people who turn to the streets due to mental health complications. While undertaking my nursing diploma, I realized that mental complications are a common issue for homeless persons (Bramley, and Fitzpatrick, 2018). My intent to help the individuals especially moving them from the harsh environment drives to study mental health nursing.

2. What are the NHS values crucial to Mental Health Nursing?

a. Everyone counts

b. Respect and dignity

c. Compassion

d. Commitment to healthcare quality

e. Improving lives

f. Working together for patients (EPUT, 2020).

3. What would NHS principles would you consider while handling mental health patients unable to meet the treatment expenses?

That the services of NHS relate to medical needs and not a person’s ability to reimburse the services (EPUT, 2020). Equally, I would consider that the NHS services are comprehensive and available for all without discrimination.

4. How would you handle a case of a homeless mental health patient struggling with chronic diabetes and cannot consent treatment, consider only they can give consent?

A patient’s mental health plays a significant role in improving their physical wellness while physical wellness enhances the management of their mental health. In a situation where a homeless mental health patient without a known family is unable to offer consent for crucial medical treatment, I would consider involving the team managing his health together with a social worker to determine the most effective treatment option and continue administration.

5. What are some of the factors you would consider in offering care to a mental health patient?

The NHS constitution recognizes the contribution of individuals in their health and that of their family, thus the need for involving one in treatment decisions. Therefore, although combining a group of patients with similar complications such as depression would enhance their management efficiency, understanding the spiritual and cultural needs of a patient is critical. This would prevent one from making decisions that could hurt the patients.

Dig deeper into Empowering Children with ASD and Pica with our selection of articles.

6. What personal qualities would enhance your ability to work with mental health patients?

a. Interest in volunteering and working with less privileged communities such as the homeless.

b. Patience and good communication skills are crucial to understanding those struggling with severe cases affecting their ability to express themselves.

7. In what ways would you promote factors of inclusion, diversity, and equality in practice?

Through promoting the 2010 Equality Act demands that include eliminating any discrimination forms, promoting equal opportunities for all patients regardless of their complication, and advocating for positive relations.

8. What are some of the weaknesses likely to impact your learning process and your practice ability and what options would you use for management?

An issue that could impact my performance in learning and practice relates to fatigue. Considering that the same could translate to compassionate fatigue during practice, developing a relaxing strategy such as mediation is important.

9. What contribution do you wish to undertake in the nursing sector during your period of study?

I intend to continue seeking volunteer work during my holidays in either psychiatric facilities or community institutions dealing with homeless individuals struggling with mental complications.

10. A friend has been acting violently in both school and at home as well as engaging in unhealthy behaviours such as drinking, although the university counsellor has documented the possibility of depression, what measures would you take to help your friend?

Depression is among the most common problems of mental health and limited management efforts could exacerbate the case. As such, I would make efforts for ensuring that they start counselling sessions even if it would mean offering them personally. In case the efforts fail, I would engage the guardians in help in allocating them a social worker.

Chart Guidance

References

Bramley, G. and Fitzpatrick, S., 2018. Homelessness in the UK: who is most at risk? Housing Studies, 33(1), pp.96-116.

Clifton, A., Higman, J., Stephenson, J., Navarro, A.R. and Welyczko, N., 2018. The role of universities in attracting male students on to pre-registration nursing programmes: An electronic survey of UK higher education institutions. Nurse education today, 71, pp.111-115.

Wu, C.S., Hsu, L.Y. and Wang, S.H., 2020. Association of depression and diabetes complications and mortality: a population-based cohort study. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 29.