Why Jade chose a career in Mental Health Nursing

Mental health nursing is a demanding career. It requires quick thinking, strength and a genuine passion for helping those that need care. It’s not a nine-to-five job; with service users often needing round the clock rehabilitative care and long term treatment. For the nurses that work in mental health, their reasons for choosing this challenging career can vary, but on the whole, the most common response is how rewarding it is to help others better themselves.

We caught up with one of our Registered Mental Health Nurses, Jade, to find out more about her journey into mental health nursing and what a typical shift looks like. Jade has been with Nurseplus for just over a year now and joined the team through a recommendation from a fellow colleague.

What initially attracted you to a career in Mental Health Nursing?

I was at college undertaking A Level Health & Social Care – I always knew that I wanted to do something that involved caring for others. It just so happened that during my studies I was visiting a friend in an inpatient setting in an acute ward and thought to myself ‘this is something I think that I would be good at.’ It inspired me and I went on to apply to study Mental Health Nursing at University.

 Why did you choose agency work?

I had been working full time for the NHS for seven years and began taking on agency work around my employment as overtime. It was during the transition period from the NHS to a private provider that I decided to leave and take up full-time agency work. I am now in my fourth year of agency work.

Do you have any particular specialisms?

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) so providing support to young people needing assistance with their emotions, behaviour or mental health. This can include violence and aggression, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-esteem problems, trauma, OCD, self-harm and suicidal thoughts, etc. The difference between CAMHS and adult mental health services is that it is a holistic, family-focused approach involving a team of professionals to come up with the best care plan.

I also specialise in custodial settings such as the assessment, treatment and management for prisoners with mental health needs. 

 What does a typical shift look like for you?

Shifts can vary hugely depending on where I am working and the service users I am working with, so no two days are the same. Generally, a typical shift can involve medication administration, carrying out mental health assessments, managing patients who self-harm such as wound care, reviewing and creating care plans, updating risk assessments, devising reports and attending CPA meetings, documenting clinical notes and liaising with patients families and their wider multidisciplinary teams.

Mental Health Nursing can be quite challenging but equally rewarding. Are there any particularly memorable shifts you have experienced?

There are too many to mention but one that stands out for me is the day a young person, aged 14, was discharged after a long 10 month inpatients stay. When she was admitted she was so unwell and poorly, she didn’t eat or drink and was extremely suicidal. However, with the help of the service we provide and inpatient intervention, she left the hospital a completely different girl – it was incredibly rewarding to see. She went on to send me a Thank You card after her discharge which is a lovely keepsake and a reminder of the difference RMNs can make to people’s lives.

If you're looking for a rewarding career in mental health nursing, you can view our available roles here. We offer a £250 joining bonus and our dedicated nursing team can support you with further training and assistance with your revalidation.