Chapter 1: Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing

Chapter 1: Introduction

Mental health is a critical component of a person’s overall health. All nurses, regardless of the
environment in which they work, need to have a basic knowledge of how to care for clients with a psychiatric
diagnosis. Nurses working in this specialty area of nursing must use a holistic approach to assess the
client’s mind, body, and spirit as one unit that works together. Just as being proactive is important to staying
physically healthy, it is also important to understand the protective factors to maintaining mental health. Nurses
should be able to assist clients in learning to recognize both their physical and psychological triggers in order to safeguard and
bolster their mental health.