• To recognise the symptoms and causes of various mental health conditions
• To enhance patient safety by being aware of the risks associated with mental health conditions, such as suicide and self-harm
• To understand the communication skills that can be used to improve care and support for people with mental health conditions
Nurses often care for people with mental health conditions in general clinical settings. In these situations, they have a responsibility to ensure that the individual’s physical, social and psychological needs are assessed and met. Nurses practising in general clinical settings should be familiar with the skills and knowledge required to meet the needs of people with mental health conditions. This article aims to provide nurses practising in general clinical settings with an understanding of such conditions and the associated effects on an individual’s physical health. It also details the signs and symptoms of various mental health conditions, and outlines the communication skills that nurses can use when caring for people with these conditions in general clinical settings.
Nursing Standard. 34, 6, 70-75. doi: 10.7748/ns.2019.e11263
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
Lowe K (2019) Caring for people with mental health conditions in general clinical settings. Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2019.e11263
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