Mental Health Nursing
Medication errors
I was just reading a report from the National Patient Safety Agency entitled ‘Safety in Doses’ (See link below). This report gives a review of medication errors reported to them during 2007. The majority of these involve general medical settings although 9% of them (6551) happened within mental health services. Luckily, 96% of all incidents [...]
Akmal Shaikh
Despite a clear history of mental health problems in the period leading up to his arrrest and conviction for drug smuggling, British citizen Akmal Shaikh was executed in China this morning.
Anyone with any experience of working with people who have mental health problems will easily identify elements of mental illness in descriptions of Mr Shaikhs [...]
Happy Christmas & Merry New Year!
Seasons greetings from everyone at the Mental Health Nurse Lecturers Tea Party
This blog is now one year old – thanks to everyone who has contributed, commented & most importantly read it over the past 12 months – see you in the new year.
Registered Nurse Plumber?
I have noted with interest over the years that nurses (and I am one) have had an attitude of “I can do that. Give me that job” and indeed nurses have expanded their role quite considerably. When accused of trying to be ‘mini doctors’ nurses have responded ‘no we are maxi nurses’. We have clearly demonstrated that [...]
The value of human life
After reading Simon’s blog post last week I got thinking about why his ideas made me feel so uncomfortable. I can’t help agreeing with many of his points, but when you add them all up – well, I felt there is something in the middle of it that is a larger issue, and one that I [...]
Thoughts on assisted suicide?
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) recently carried out a survey on assisted suicide. It was only open to their members, quite rightly as it will inform the policy of the RCN, but this restriction will result in a flaw in their research.
It is right that we have this debate – but it will only [...]
A losing battle?
I was just reading this story from the BBC about a suggestion that the Scottish cannabis crop (worth an estimated £100 million) may now be bigger than the Scottish vegetable crop.
This comes in the same week that we had the story about the sacked Government drugs adviser. As usual then, plenty of stories about drugs.
Just ask a [...]
Half way through my first placement
This is the second guest post from Kate Hopley (first post here) who recently commenced a course here at BCU. Kate has also started a BCU mental health nurse student area on Facebook
I am now more than half way through my first placement, and I have had many new experiences since writing my last entry. I [...]
Hope for Mental Health Reforms – a US perspective
Todays guest post is from Nicole White from the USA.
The bailout that was signed by former President Bush in October 2008 opened up a new door to health reforms by requiring that group insurance companies require equal coverage for both mental and physical illnesses. This was a milestone in health insurance policies that had previously [...]
A Mental Health Nurse?
I thought it would be a good idea to identify the role of the mental health nurse. Occasionally when people find out I’m a mental health nurse, they say, ‘mental health nurses – all they do is sit around talking all day. This, and the general lack of knowledge about the role of the mental [...]