Useful tips for psychiatric nurses for assessment of patients

 perception of the disease from the patient's point of
Assessment of patients, or the understanding of theview and how  he or she copes with the disease. In
patient especially in connection with the disease orother words, the efforts put in by the patient to deal
ailment, assumes special significance in psychiatricwith the present ailment or disease needs to be
nursing, because the responsibility of a psychiatricrecorded.
nurse is not mere care and assistance for curing the4. Information about the patient's family, the
disease, as in other cases, but the wholesome care ofbackground and historical patterns of behavior in the
the patient and restoring normalcy to the patient.  Thefamily members needs to be recorded by gathering
patients requiring psychiatric treatment are generallyinformation from the patient and his or her close
insane or have some sort of mental disorder andrelatives or family members interested in the cure of
restoring normalcy or near normalcy becomes thethe patient
ultimate challenge for a psychiatric nurse.5. Appearance, cultural background and the primary
 language of the patient
Assessment of the patient, his or her feelings, behavior,6. Habits of the patient that include addictions, if any, for
attitude, characteristics, mental state and awarenesssmoking, drinking or chewing tobacco or such other
and all such things, gain paramount importance inthings
psychiatric nursing, as these details, though trivial as it7. Level of memory of the patient – such as recent
may look, provide important clues for formulating thememory and remote memories, as well as orientation
nursing process, diagnosis and evaluation of the courseof the patient – the place of residence and living
of treatment for the patient as a whole.8. Complete and comprehensive details of the patient's
 physical systems, as well as nutrition problems, allergies
Active participation of the patient in the treatmentand such other medical issues, if any
process is essential in psychiatric nursing and invariably9. Details related to suicidal thoughts, perceptions of
requires an extended stay of the patients at thehallucinations or delusions, aggression or such other
hospital or specialty care centers.thoughts should also be noted as part of the
 assessment.
As part of the assessment of the patient, the following10.  Relationship with family members, present living
details need to be recorded:conditions, communication skills, cognition levels, mood
 related issues should also find a place in the
1. The perception of the patient with regard to theAssessment
facilities in the hospital, the services rendered and the11.  Present standard of living, income earning
general atmosphere available in the center needs tocapability and remuneration, value systems in life,
be ascertained and recordedhobbies, interests and spiritual affinity should also be
2. General strength of the patient, as perceived by himrecorded in the assessment form.
or her and explained to the psychiatric nurse as part 
of the therapeutic communication should find place inSome of the details recorded by the psychiatric nurse
the assessment.  In addition, psychiatric nurse's viewmight look trivial, but they are essential for further
about patient's strength can also be included.treatment and preparation of nursing plans and
3. The assessment record should include thediagnosis in association and co-operation of the patient.