Assessment is an essential role of mental health nursing and therefore an essential learning and development requirement for pre-registration nurses (Walker, Carpenter and Middlewick, 2013). Walker (2013) suggests, “Assessment is the means by which patients’ needs are ascertained and appropriate treatment plans created in conjunction with the patient” (p.1). As an essential area of mental health nursing learning and development, it is important that student nurses develop a critical awareness of how to employ assessments in practice. Walker (2013) defines assessment in mental health nursing in broad terms as: “A process by which we ascertain the history, current situation and potential treatment of a person requesting and requiring healthcare” …show more content…
The SMFQ is a psychological assessment tool (Verhulst and van der Ende, 2006) and therefore only measures the psychological paradigm mentioned above. Another approach would be to assess both the sociological and psychological and this approach is referred to as the psychosocial method (Barker, 2009). However, in mental health nursing it is important that we get the ‘whole-picture’ of a person as it helps to inform patient care. The ‘whole-picture’ can only be created when all three paradigms are assessed in tandem, this is called the bio-psychosocial model (Walker, Carpenter and Middlewick, 2013). The bio-psychological model is underpinned by the theory that the Sociological, Biological, and Psychological paradigms are all interlinked and what can appear to be separate issues are often related. It suggests that the mind and body are connected and interdependent, physical illness could therefore impact on social and psychological functioning and vice versa (Norman and Ryrie, 2013). The bio-psychosocial model encourages nurses to assess the variety of complex factors which could lead to mental illness, such as depression, and to evaluate the factors from which mental illness may have developed and are maintained (Walker, Carpenter and Middlewick, 2013). Although assessment tools such as the SMFQ are useful to help support decisions when care planning for a patient. It is necessary to consider the biological and sociological parts to assessment to provide a holistic care plan for a patient (Barker, 2009). It could be argued therefore that the SMFQ provides a brief psychological assessment of a patient and is useful in identifying the presence of depression, but that it does not take into account interlinked biological and social factors which may have an impact. The SMFQ will assist in identifying the need for care, but doesn’t
Michael is a 56 year old male who lives alone in a small tin shed in the middle of the bush in central Queensland. He has no children, no partner and lives by himself. During the day he spends his time sleeping on the couch or doing chores around the property. If he isn’t asleep, he requires a stimuli to remain occupied. When he was a young boy, he was a very calm child with a great sense of humour. His physical health was perfect with good energy levels. When he was sexually abused at the age of 8, by his grandfather, these characteristics started to change. From the age of 16 he was having regular breakdowns in his thinking and emotional responses. Michael was constantly feeling irritable and having trouble sleeping with frequent nightmares. As the years went by his attitude was extremely negative which led on to him being withdrawn from his family and friends. During his last year of high school, he started to regularly use marijuana. He would experience countless amounts of paranoia episodes where he would hear voices and thought he was being spied on. At the age of 45 he was fin...
First of all, this case is associated with biopsychosocial approach which recognizes that, it is the approach that considers human behavior to be the result of interactions of integrated biological, psychological, and social systems. This approach helps us to recognize the ways in which women’s biology, psychology, and their social world intertwine within each other affect their reactions to alcohol and alcohol interventions. In order to explain some of the concepts and theories, we must first sort through the facts that have been presented in the case study. This particular case is concerned with developing a better understanding of the relationship between Casey, and alcoholism.
Shannon Aydt is a 22 year old white female, born June 11th, 1994. She is a 5th year at Saint Cloud State University studying Social Work. Shannon currently resides at her parent’s home in Andover, MN; however, she lived on/near campus for her first 4 years of college. Though she does not pay rent while living with her parents she would consider herself a “poor college student.”
Stuart, G. W. (2009). Principles and Practice of Psychiatric Nursing (9th ed. pp 561). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
The model of addiction etiology that best describes why people get addicted and how best to help them is biopsychosocial model. The biopsychosocial model, first developed by cardiologist Dr. George Engel, is today widely accepted by the mental health professions. The biopsychosocial model describes addiction as a brain illness that causes personality and social problems. The biopsychosocial model lets us to make solid and accurate differences between substance use, abuse, and dependence. It also allows the signs of addiction to be recognized and structured into progressive stages.
The Scottish Government [TSG] (2005). National Care Standards - support services (revised march 2005) [PDF] available at The Scottish Government website; scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/239525/0066023.pdf
This article was written by several well educated professionals in the nursing field. The article appears in a peer reviewed nursing journal that covers topics in psychiatric and mental health nursing that has a 37-year history. The sources history, along with the use of various references from other professional sources establish the journal entries
Annotated Bibliography | Biopsychology 05/19/16 Wickens, A. P., & Wickens, A. P. (2009). Introduction to biopsychology. Harlow, England: Pearson Education Limited. This is a book that was composed by Andrew Wickens and it fundamentally concentrates on the nuts and bolts of the biopsychology study.
This model believes that an individual may be free from disease or physical injury however social factors that surrounds a person will determine their wellbeing. In the social dimension of health a person has to be able to interact with people, such as friends and family. According to Antonia C. Lyons and Kerry Chamberlain (2006) Health Psychology a Critical introduction ‘studies have demonstrated an association between what is called social integration and physical health, including mortality rates’. The skill to be able to build healthy relationships may give an individual a positive self-image. Poor social skills may mean that an individual may become isolated or stressed. If an individual becomes stressed and isolated they will be free of disease as they will be physically and mentally fit, however the stress will contribute to the health status of the individual. According to Charles L. Sheridan and Sally A. Radmacher (1992) Health psychology challenging the biomedical model ‘attributes like strength, health and attractiveness can be helpful in coping with
It is generally accepted within healthcare that to understand mental health we must adopt the biopsychosocial model. This model assumes that an interdependent relationship exists between biological, psychological and social factors which are involved in all aspects of mental health (Toates, 2010, p. 14). To be true to the model research must be holistic and not investigate the factors in isolation.
Walsh, A & Clarke, V. (2009) Fundamentals of Mental health Nursing New York: Oxford University Press.
According to Grundy et al (2016), care planning is not only about clinical decisions, it is a shared responsibility between the person and the professionals. The professionals involved have a responsibility to make sure they are engaging fully with the person throughout the care planning process and to make sure they are meeting the required needs of each person, which will undoubtedly be different every time. Care plans should be meaningful and personalised to the service user and should include their goals, aspirations, and health needs. Mental health nurses have a duty to offer people evidence-based options and to make sure they fully understand these (Anthony and Crawford, 2000). Care plans are put in place to support person and help the
Mental disorders are rapidly becoming more common with each new generation born in the world. Currently, nearly one in two people suffer from some form of depression, anxiety, or other mental health problem at some point in their lives (Editor). With so many people suffering from their mental illnesses, steps have been taken in order to get help needed for these people but progress has been slow. In the medical world, hospitals are treating those with physical problems with more care than those with mental problems. Prescription drugs can only do so much helping the mentally ill go through their daily lives and more should be done to help those who need more than medicine to cope with their illness. Mental health should be considered just as important as physical health because of how advanced physical healing is, how the public reacts to those with mental illness, and due to the consequences that could happen if the illness is not correctly helped.
Mental health is just as important as physical health in a person’s life. Mental health is critical to a person’s well-being, their ability to live a productive life and to keep a healthy family and interpersonal relationships. Mental health does not just affect the mind it also affects people’s physical health. Some physical health diseases can cause a mental health disorder and vice versa. Mental health disorders are associated with the occurrence, development, and outcome of some of the today’s most chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. When people go untreated from a mental health disorder are at a higher risk for many unhealthy behaviors such as alcohol and drug use, violent behavior, and suicide.
Mental illness is the condition that significantly impede with an individual’s emotional, cognitive or social abilities (Savy and Sawyer, 2009). According to (Savy and Sawyer, 2009) neurological, metabolic, genetic and psychological causes are contributing factors for various types of mental illness like depression, schizophrenia, substance abuse and progression of condition. An elaborate system known as DSM-IV-TR gives a classification system that acts to separate mental illness into diagnostic categories based on the description of symptoms of illness (Savy and Sawyer, 2009). The exact primarily causes of mental illness are complicated, however, it seems to occur in a psychologically and biologically prone individual, in the trigger of environmental and social stress (Elder, Evans and Nizette, 2007).