Other nursing responsibilities include educating about illnesses and medications, facilitating therapy groups, being part of a treatment team and providing for people's physical needs when necessary. Over time, I've watched very capable staff deal with these situations in the most professional and dignified way possible. At all times, safety is our No. 1 focus. One of the most common difficulties patients experience upon admission is a lack of insight about their situation. They may have stopped taking prescribed medications or be under the influence of other substances.
Mental illness affects every aspect of an individual's life and can have far-reaching consequences.
So many of these people feel they are a failure and weak and at fault, when the reality is that there is a physiological cause for their illness, just as there is in physical illness. The most gratifying part of my work is seeing someone get better. Working with somebody admitted with multiple psychotic symptoms, gaining their trust, having them resume their medications and become well enough to go back home is incredibly rewarding. But, for the most part, I feel I maintain excellent balance in this area. I imagine there's a lot of quick burnout in this field.