Introduction to the Competency
For this paper, competency N-1, “Mental health and addiction nursing and interventions,” has been chosen (“Competency profile for licensed practical nurses,” 2020). The focus is on the subcategory N-1- 6 “Demonstrate knowledge and ability to support patient, family, and others with coping strategies and community-based resources” (“Competency profile for licensed practical nurses,” 2020).
Significant Learning Experience
The competency I learned for the nurse practitioner is to provide support for the patient and their family, which is closely connected to the ability to educate them about coping strategies and community-based resources. The analysis of reading materials showed me that I need to use a multisectoral approach across health, education, and protection rather than being limited to a single sector. This support assumes crisis responses are culturally and socially appropriate, safe, trustworthy, collaborative, and community-managed (Loureiro et al., 2024). Therefore, as a nurse, I learned to strengthen support networks within the family and community and to encourage constructive coping strategies for affected people and their families.
Lessons Learned
I learned that in medical institutions, nurses are vital to the management of substance use disorders. Addiction can have serious adverse effects on a person’s life and the community, such as violence, crime, and loss of employment. The human costs to the individual, their friends, and their family, nevertheless, cannot even come close to being covered by the financial expenses. Effective treatment for individuals with substance use disorders is greatly dependent on nurses, who are sometimes the first medical professionals they encounter (Austin et al., 2022). For this reason, professional nurses need to enhance their knowledge about drug use disorders and addiction, the role that substance use nurses have, and learn about helpful hints to help patients who are struggling with addiction.
I learned about the need and the ways to offer early detection, psychoeducational assistance, and therapy techniques to patients with mental health issues, mental health, and addictions. The skills required of specialist nurses who provide community-based mental health support to individuals with a range of mental health issues center on developing trustworthy relationships with patients while upholding their right to maintain their confidentiality and privacy. An evidence-based approach is the central aspect of the discussed competency, as it provides the nurse with the most relevant and up-to-date information on caring for patients with mental health and substance abuse conditions (Austin et al., 2022). After a comprehensive evaluation, a nursing diagnosis is developed based on the nurse’s clinical judgment and understanding of the patient’s specific medical condition to adequately address the difficulties related to substance misuse (Austin et al., 2022).
I also learned that nursing diagnoses provide a framework for organizing treatment, although their applicability in specific clinical contexts may vary (Austin et al., 2022). It is crucial to remember that the use of specific nursing diagnostic labels in clinical settings may be less prevalent than other care plan elements (Austin et al., 2022). The care plan is eventually tailored to each patient’s needs, considering their priorities and health concerns, thanks to the nurse’s professional skill and judgment.
Proficiency Rating
The challenging phase is integrating nursing interventions for addiction and mental health. I can rate my proficiency in this category as good, though there are areas I need to improve. It means focusing on initiatives whose primary objective is to enhance the mental health and psychosocial well-being of those of concern (Kazemi et al., 2021). These activities are typically carried out in health, patient safeguarding, community-based protection, building relationships with patients’ families, and education (Austin et al., 2022).
Even though I understand the needs of mental health and addiction patients and their families, it is not always easy for me to implement all initiatives in practice. I tried to take a thorough approach and increase participation from other parties. I also tried to establish contact with the patient’s family and to explain the need to receive help from community-based organizations. There are situations when patients and their family members refuse to adopt the coping strategies the nurse proposes.
Significance of Learning
It is also critical to work on the improvement of my communication skills, which are an integral part of interacting with patients with mental health and substance abuse problems. I understood that these populations are vulnerable, and that communication with them requires close attention to detail and active participation by the nurse practitioner (Loureiro et al., 2024). The mental health of the people I care about can be enhanced by using a participatory approach and treating clients with respect. It is possible that nurses caring for these patients may not be aware of these consequences.
Nursing Practice
In my future nursing practice, I plan to address the educational needs of patients and their caregivers first. Family members often draw on their experiences to learn about the condition and its effects. Families must be informed about the ailments their members are coping with to maximize their active participation in recovery. It is corroborated by another significant result documented in several studies. Family members want more information about how the health system functions and are dissatisfied with the quantity of disease education they obtain (Kazemi et al., 2021).
I also plan to implement the evidence-based approach to improving my professional qualities. Scholars found that about half of family members with information about an illness obtained it from doctors, whereas only 4.7% obtained it from nurses (Kazemi et al., 2021). This finding could be regarded as evidence that nurses are either insufficiently aware of their educational obligations or do not fulfill them adequately. As a nurse, I plan to notify the patient’s family members about their condition. My strong side is the ability to educate patients about their condition, which is critical since there is a substantial correlation between family members’ formal education level and their knowledge of disorders.
For medical professionals, co-occurring mental health illnesses and substance abuse-related disorders offer a dilemma. The complexity of these ailments may impede precise identification and effective management, which could become my problem. As a result, I should give adequate care and be aware of the possibility of co-occurring diseases as a nurse practitioner. I plan to use evidence-based nursing treatments that are essential for treating these conditions and enhancing patient outcomes, which is my major future learning need.
As a nurse, I need to be educated about these techniques to provide patients with co-occurring illnesses the best possible treatment. To guarantee that they acquire the most effective care possible, patients ought to be urged to reveal any substance use or mental health difficulties.
References
Austin, W., Peternelj-Taylor, C. A., Kunyk, D., & Boyd, M. A. (2022). Psychiatric & mental health nursing for Canadian practice (5th ed.). Wolters Kluwer Health.
Competency profile for licensed practical nurses. (2020). College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta.
Kazemi, A., Azimian, J., Mafi, M., Allen, K. A., & Motalebi, S. A. (2021). Caregiver burden and coping strategies in caregivers of older patients with stroke. BMC Psychology, 9(1), 51.
Loureiro, F., Peças, D., Neves, A. C., & Antunes, A. V. (2024). Coping strategies and social support in nursing students during clinical practice: A scoping review. Nursing Open, 11(2).