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Detailed Needs and Requirements: Psychiatric Unit
5. Psychiatric Nurses
The nursing staff of a typical unit may consist of a head nurse, R.N.s,
L.P.N.s and nursing assistants.
The head nurse is responsible for all nursing care on the unit and
cooperates with the psychiatrist in developing nursing techniques that
will most effectively carry out the therapeutic program. Her activities,
in addition to the supervision of nursing care, will include scheduling
and supervision of the functions of the nursing staff.
The nursing staff participates in all phases of the patients' treatment
and, accordingly, plays a key role in creating a therapeutic
environment. They attend to both the physical and emotional needs of
the patient and serve as a useful information source on patient
behavior for the psychiatrist and other members of the team. The
nursing staff assists in the administering of the various somatic
therapies and is responsible for the maintenance and security of
patient records.
In addition to their clinical duties, the nursing staff may act as
recorders, observers and participants in research, and as teachers to
the auxiliary nursing staff and nursing students.
Nursing care constitutes most of the daily personal contact between
patients and staff and, through this, the nursing staff, in their general
behavior, serves as a model for influencing patient behavior. Patients
should be free to approach the nursing staff, on inclination, to discuss,
ask questions or ask assistance. The nursing staff, on the other hand,
should have a means to avoid over-exposure by being able to retreat
from patient attention occasionally.
The role of the nursing staff is essentially therapeutic and
administrative, not custodial. However, the nurse should be able to
observe and control any patient who may be under sedation or
undergoing special treatment and to observe patient group activity
areas.
The nursing staff may wear uniforms or everyday clothes according to
preference. It is desirable that overcoats and other personal articles
be kept secure while they are on duty.
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