Psychiatric and Mental Health nursing deals with the care of patients who have emotional and mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, addiction, and mood disorders. Nurses care for individuals, families, groups, and communities through counseling, education, and, in some cases, medication to promote mental and emotional health.

Nurses may work in counseling centers, clinics, or hospitals, as well as doing home visits or working in long-term residential facilities. Patients often range in age from children through adolescence to adulthood. Nurses must be prepared to help the patients, as well as their families, since psychiatric and mental health is achieved through a nursing care plan implemented by a support team, which may include counselors and/or psychiatrists or psychologists. Psychiatric nurses should be especially sensitive to their patients' emotional and mental needs since that is the root of the health concerns.


Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Theories and Models

• Erickson's Modeling and Role Modeling Theory
• King's Theory of Goal Attainment
• Neuman's Systems Model
• Orem's Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory
• Orlando's Nursing Process Discipline Theory
• Peplau's Theory of Interpersonal Relations
• Parse's Human Becoming Theory
• Rogers' Theory of Unitary Human Beings
• Roy's Adaptation Model of Nursing
• Kolcaba's Theory of Comfort
• Watson's Philosophy and Science of Caring
• Nightingale's Environment Theory
• Pender's Health Promotion Model
• Roper-Logan-Tierney's Model for Nursing Based on a Model of Living
• Henderson's Nursing Need Theory
• Barker's Tidal Model of Mental Health Recovery
• Mercer's Maternal Role Attainment Theory
• Casey's Model of Nursing