Mental health nursing is a specialized career for those desiring to advocate and care for individuals and families affected by psychiatric conditions. Succeeding in this field requires a unique set of mental health nursing skills. Fast facts from the National Alliance on Mental Illness demonstrate the prevalence of mental health conditions in America, with 1 in 5 U.S. adults and 1 in 6 U.S. youth experiencing mental illness each year.

A psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is an advanced practice nursing role for nurses looking to enter this challenging and rewarding specialty. The demand for skilled PMHNPs extends into various work settings from hospitals to medical clinics and community organizations. This blog overviews some key psychiatric nursing skills that help nurses succeed in the workplace with their patients.

Mental Health Nursing Skills

There are many types of mental health professionals (including psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners), each prepared with unique training. Some mental health providers have a priority focus on behavioral health and clinical counseling while others concentrate more heavily on medical management of psychiatric illness. Mental health is a complex field requiring interdisciplinary approaches to care that prioritize patient needs and preferences.

Examples of diverse mental health professionals include:

• Addictions counselors
• Clinical social workers
• Psychiatrists
• Nurses and nurse practitioners
• Marriage and family counselors

Skills for successful treatment of mental illness are important for all types of mental health providers to hone and practice. Read on for an overview of six specific mental health nursing skills.

1.    Communication Skills

Excellent communication skills are essential for mental health nurses. The ability of a psychiatric mental health care provider to listen with empathy, advocate with compassion and maintain professionalism is paramount. Likewise, healthy emotional boundaries with patients and families are necessary for therapeutic relationships to achieve their goals.

Types of communication skills for mental health providers to develop include:

• Clear and concise spoken instruction for patient education
• Therapeutic nonverbal cues for supporting the emotional environment
• Comfort with silence when appropriate
• Active listening
• Adaptive and flexible methods tailored to the individual situation

At times, difficult conversations are required in mental health nursing because the toll of these conditions can be serious on those who are affected. Building trust and rapport with patients and families is an essential goal for mental health nurses.

2.    Assessment Skills

Open-ended questions and summarizing patient responses are two ways a mental health nurse may complete an initial patient history for a thorough assessment. Beyond the spoken word, PMHNPs have honed observational skills assessing non-verbal appearance and behaviors in order to form a comprehensive assessment. Many types of diagnostic tools are helpful in managing mental conditions and evaluating treatment progress. PMHNPs must be adept at applying these tools in the clinical setting with patients of all ages.

The components of a mental health assessment extend into:

• Mental status examination
• Risk assessment for harm to self and others
• Functional assessment of patient activities of daily living and social interactions
• Diagnostics and ongoing evaluation

A holistic approach to mental health assessment requires providers to be skilled in combining these different components to accurately understand the patient’s health status.

3.    Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Within the realm of mental health care, many patients benefit from the services of different types of mental health professionals. Psychiatric nurse practitioner duties include making referrals and collaborating with other disciplines as appropriate for each patient case. PMHNPs know when to leverage other specialists or community organizations that support patients and their families, creating holistic care for the patient. Collaboration is essential for positive mental health outcomes.

Coordinating care is beneficial among mental health providers because it allows:

• Effective resource utilization
• Clarification of roles and approaches to care
• Enhanced safety for patients
• Support for providers to minimize the potential for burnout

A multidisciplinary approach to mental health care involves practitioners collaborating for solutions that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

4.    Leadership Skills

Within the mental health care team, the PMHNP’s leadership skills empower patients and the rest of the care team. Emotional intelligence and resilience are characteristics of mental health nurses who handle stress in healthy ways while supporting the well-being of others. Advocacy in mental health care is a practical leadership trait exercised each time a provider acts on behalf of their patient who may otherwise be unable to receive needed assistance.

Mental health nurses can act as leaders in educational settings when they provide continuing education and pursue professional development to grow in their patient care abilities. PMHNPs are able to mentor newer nurses to develop their skills and achieve greater career advancement.

5.    Cultural Competence

A trusting, therapeutic relationship between a mental health nurse and their patients is possible when cultural competence is present. Cultural competence includes:

• Awareness of cultural practices
• Sensitivity and openness to learn about cultural preferences
• Incorporation of cultural beliefs into the care plan
• Family and community support as desired by the patient

An ethical and respectful mental health practice requires cultural competence.

6.    Ethical and Legal Skills

Mental health nursing may come with ethical dilemmas that can be challenging. A nurse who uses ethical frameworks for decision-making is prepared to uphold the highest standards of the nursing profession. There are also relevant laws and regulations pertinent to mental health such as the duty to report cases of abuse.

There are times when mental health nurses may seek legal counsel as a type of collaborative care for patients. Protecting patient rights and doing no harm in clinical practice is an ethical duty. Assessment and documentation of a patient’s capacity to consent to treatments is another requirement for mental health providers.

How to Develop PMHNP Skills

A PMHNP program offers valuable education where you can learn the skills needed to be a successful mental health nurse through coursework and practicum requirements. If you want to learn how to become a psychiatric mental health nurse, you can pursue specialty training beyond the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and enroll in a CCNE-accredited PMHNP MSN or post-master’s certificate program

PMHNPs must also attain certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) after graduation as part of the state-specific licensure qualifications for clinical practice.   

Pursue a Leadership Role as a Mental Health Advocate

Registered Nurses who desire an expanded career in the mental health field can apply for admission to Rockhurst University’s Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) PMHNP program or post-master’s certificate and enjoy program features such as:

• Online coursework plus clinical hours
• Complementary clinical placement support
• Flexible schedule as a part-time or full-time student
• Preparation for the PMHNP certification exam upon graduation

If you’re ready to pursue a leadership role as a mental health advocate, learn more about Rockhurst University’s Online MSN-PMHNP and Online Post-Master’s PMHNP programs.