Mental Health Nurse
What's it like to be a Mental Health Nurse?
Mental Health Nurses are Registered Nurses who specialise in working with patients with mental health needs. They may work with patients suffering from addition, eating disorders, stress and anxiety, and other conditions that present as mental health as well as physical concerns. Mental Health Nurses may work in hospitals, clinics and specialist centres that treat people with different mental health issues, such as addiction treatment centres. A Mental Health Nurse’s schedule will depend on their workplace setting, but they may need to work shifts, which can include evening, weekend and holiday work.
Tasks and duties
- Providing support and care to patients who have mental health conditions.
- Helping patients to manage their symptoms and better understand their conditions.
- Observing and assessing clients in order to provide information, education and care to individuals, their families and other health professionals.
- Advocating for clients in order to promote their rights, responsibilities and psychological wellbeing.
How to become a Mental Health Nurse
Mental Health Nurses need to become Registered Nurses and then specialise in Mental Health Nursing.
Complete a three-year Bachelor of Nursing or related qualification approved by the Nursing Council of New Zealand.
Pass a test and become registered with the Nursing Council in New Zealand. Even if you want to go straight into specialisation training, you’ll need registration in order to apply.
Gain work experience as a Nurse or go straight into specialist postgraduate training. This could be a postgraduate certificate or diploma in health sciences in mental health/mental health and addiction nursing, or a masters degree in nursing or mental health nursing.
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