How To Become a Successful Mental Health Nurse

Mental problems can be caused by various reasons. For example, it may be triggered by the death of a loved one, drug abuse, failed marriage, work problems, sudden lifestyle changes, and even giving birth. 

Unlike in diagnosing health issues like diabetes and hypertension, assessing mental health conditions can be quite difficult. 

There are several steps a mental health professional conducts in order to rule out conditions and find the real underlying cause. For example, mental health specialists conduct physical tests, run lab tests, trace mental health background and personal history and conduct an in-depth mental and cognitive assessment. 

This is why it’s quite demanding to work as a mental health nurse (RMN). Aside from getting a nursing degree, there are specific traits and skills needed in order to serve as a mental health professional. 

Learn more about this profession, and how you can become successful in this career path.

What does a mental health nursing job entail?

Mental health professionals provide medical support to patients with mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, personality disorders, alcohol/drug addiction and eating disorders. They also aim to help patients build healthy relationships with their families.

Part of the role and responsibilities of an RMN is to assess and support patients, encourage patients to participate in therapies, provide physical assistance and administer medication. 

If you choose to work in this profession, you must learn how to:

● Provide medical assistance and care to patients diagnosed with acute mental conditions.

● Administer medication and treatment and monitor results.

● De-escalate stressful situations, manage mental illness symptoms, and help overcome mental issues.

● Interact with the family of the patient and offer advice concerning mental condition if needed.

● Prepare and maintain records, assess risks, and produce care plans for the patient.

● Organise therapy sessions that help improve the condition of the patient.

How to become an RMN:

To become a successful RMN, you must complete a nursing degree approved by the NMC or Nursing and   Council. To qualify for a nursing degree, you must meet the following requirements:

● Have a minimum average of Grade C

● Completed two to three A-levels qualifications

Apart from those mentioned above, we recommend checking the specific requirements of the university you wish to enrol in. Take note that most universities impose stricter admission regulations. You should definitely check the admission procedure before you proceed.

You must also learn how to write a convincing personal statement. Use your personal statement to convince the university why you want to pursue a career in mental health nursing.

We recommend outlining the reasons why you fit the course. Do your best to show that you're the best person for the course.

Aside from the course, there are other things you need to bear in mind.

Required skills and traits:

After completing your degree, you must go through specialization training. You must also pass the background checks and occupational health checks conducted by the regulating authority.

As a mental health nurse, you must be prepared to face emotionally-draining situations. To effectively manage the issues of your patients, you are expected to have the following traits:

● Caring and approachable personality

● Exceptional communications skills

● Ability to provide empathic support

● Non-judgemental towards the behaviour of the patient

● Unconditional and sincere concern for patients

● Quick thinking

● Effective in solving problems

● Ability to observe and assess the conditions of the patients

● Level headed and calm at all times

Nurses in the mental health industry also need to be extra patient because mental health patients can be extremely difficult to work with. You need to effectively manage aggression or violence, most especially if you will work in the mental health ward.  

How you can get a job as a mental health nurse:

In the UK, nurses who wish to pursue a career in the mental health sector needs to be registered with the NMC. 

To be an eligible RMN nurse in the UK, you must complete your degree and register with the NMC. Here are the steps you need to bear in mind depending on where you trained:

Trained in the UK:

The registration process for nurses who trained in the UK takes 20 working days to complete. 

After getting your nursing degree, your university will upload course, personal details, certificate of good character and health clearance to the NMC database. 

Once the NMC receives your documents, they will send a letter to notify you how you can create an account in the NMC website. 

You will need your NMC website account to complete your test registration and pay the fee. The registration fee you need to pay amounts to £120. During the test registration process, you also need to declare any criminal conviction or police caution.

After NMC processes your application, they will send your statement of entry. Take note that you must apply within six months you graduate. Otherwise, NMC might need to process your information a bit longer.

Trained within the EU or EEA:

Nurses trained outside the UK but within the EU or EEA states need to satisfy additional requirements. We recommend checking the NMC guidelines for EU or EEA nurses to fully understand the application process. After completing the application process, you should pay the £110 fee.

The NMC will check the validity of your qualifications and verify if your experience and training satisfy the requirements in the UK. They will also assess your English proficiency by looking at the results of your IELTS test.

Trained outside the EU/EEA:

The UK welcomes nurses from all around the globe. If you want to work as an RMN on the British soil, we recommend securing the following requirements:

● UK working visa

● Nursing degree diploma

● IELTS result

● 3-year pre-registration for RMN training programme

You should also double check for additional requirements on the NMC website.

What jobs are available for a certified RMN:

After you complete your degree, training and NMC registration, your next priority is to find a suitable job. 

As a duly licensed RMN, you can apply for various positions. Below are the options you can choose from:

● Hospital RMN - Registered mental health nurses can work in a hospital ward. If you choose this career path, you need to work 24-hour rotating work shifts.

● Community Nurse - RMNs work in shifts, most especially if you choose to work in crisis groups. You also need to conduct site visits especially if the patient can no longer go to your location.

● Agency Nurse - A lot of nurses nowadays find work through the help of a nursing agency. In this setup, you will need to work on several sites. This option usually comes with a higher salary.

● Bank Nurse - The NHS trusts plus nursing homes across the British territory need a bank staff system. In this system, nursing staff work in shifts but have the freedom to choose which shifts they prefer to work in.

In choosing an RMN nursing career, make sure to consider your available time and your preferred setup. Weigh in on each option carefully so you can find the most appropriate job posting that can satisfy your needs and demands. 

If you’re having a hard time looking for avaiable posts, try to check out job portal sites for nurses in the UK such as Nurses. By typing specific keywords that relate to your target position, you can find a suitable job posting that you can apply to.

Continued training and practice:

Employers constantly demand their nursing staff to continuously train in order to provide the best services to their patients. This is why employers require annual training for their staff. In most cases, companies shoulder the expenses for such additional requirements. 

Aside from improving your skills, you are also required to revalidate your NMC registration every three years. For more details on revalidation, you can go to the NMC website.

If you stopped practising for many years, you will also be required to undergo revalidation.  You must follow the procedure and guidelines of the NMC, take the necessary tests and pay the required fees.

Without a revalidated NMC registration, you can’t return to work. You may be penalised and charged with a criminal offence if you dare practice without revalidating your registration.

Becoming an RMN may be a tedious and challenging job because of the type of patients you need to deal with every day. Nevertheless, it’s still among the noblest and the most rewarding professions today. Use our guidelines above to pursue your dream of working as an RMN in the UK.