Nursing Competencies: Nursing Process

This chapter describes selected considerations for mental health assessments, processes, and interventions that are essential components of psychotherapy. A bio/psycho/social/spiritual model and trauma- and violence-informed approach creates a safe structure for holistic comprehensive and focused assessments as well as treatment. Interpersonal skills are requirements for building and sustaining a trusting nurse-client therapeutic relationship. The nurse needs to understand the client’s context, the connectedness of their problems, and their motivation for seeking care. Tools and scales to improve diagnostic reasoning set the foundation for further workup and tailored interventions. Screening for suicide, self-harm, and violence will be part of the assessment. Clients will respond to various interventions and the nurse’s role is to empower them to find their own solutions. Pertinent health records and history may also be important. The nurse will guide the interventions so that a satisfactory outcome in the therapeutic relationship is achieved. The nurse recognizes their own personal and professional limitations. To be effective, the nurse requires supervised experience, and knowledge and skills in counselling theory and techniques. The nurse must familiarize themselves with the ethical standards developed by their jurisdictional professional association and regulatory body.