Introducing Mental Health Nursing: A Service User-oriented Approach

Abstract

Introducing Mental Health Nursing offers a systematic overview of both the science and the art of caring for people experiencing mental health problems. It addresses the attitudes, knowledge and skills required to provide care for service users across all health care settings, from specialist mental health services to general hospitals and community care. The authors place the service user at the centre of all aspects of mental health care and emphasise the importance of the therapeutic relationship as the cornerstone of good mental health nursing practice. Emphasis is placed on the role of the nurse as an intrinsic member of the mental health team, and nurses are encouraged to think critically about the perspectives that they bring to their practice.