Mental Status and Psychiatric Assessment – An Introduction

Mental Status and Psychiatric Assessment – An Introduction

In this lecture psychiatric nursing assessment as a dynamic interpersonal process is discussed. A nursing definition of mental illness is provided. The abstract nature of the concept of mental illness is emphasised. Different theories of mental illness are provided. The complexity of assessing mental health is discussed. Research into nurse’s perceptions of acute mental illness and the role of the psychiatric nurse are discussed. Differing theoretical frameworks of mental illness are described. This is a highly interactive session.

The main concepts explored in this session are:

• Psychiatric nursing assessment as a dynamic interpersonal process
• Definitions of mental illness
• Different theories of mental illness
• Theoretical frameworks of mental illness
• Research: perceptions of acute mental illness and the role of the psychiatric nurse

Patricia Awty is a Nurse Consultant and Educator with extensive hospital and university based experience as a clinician, teacher and lecturer.  She is a qualified general and psychiatric nurse who has a Master of Health Science and a special interest in the psychodynamics of therapeutic relationships and care. Pat is well known as an informed and inspiring nurse teacher and regularly conducts teaching sessions throughout Australia which are invariably highly evaluated.

Speaker name: Pat Awty
Recorded: 21 & 22 June 2010
Listening time: 24 Mins
Conference: Psychiatric Nursing Assessment Skills
Session in Conference: Mental status and psychiatric assessment – An introduction
State: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Professional Reviews:

I found the presentation interesting but for me the content was too broad. I would have liked a bit more information on the specific models and their application when assessing a client.