VARCAROLIS FOUNDATION OF PSYCHIATRIC AND MENTAL HEALTH NURSING

Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing: Key Points Chapter 1-5 Chapter 1: Mental Health and Mental Illness 1. Overall health is not possible without good mental health 2. Mental Health vs Mental Illness a. There is a mental health and mental illness continuum that can demonstrate how functioning changes over time; MI and MH are endpoints on the continuum. b. Mental health: i. Able to recognize own potential ii. Cope with normal stress/ Adaptive healthy behavior iii. Work productively iv. Make contribution to community v. is able to differentiate reality from fantasy; reality oriented vi. Adequate self -concept vii. control over own behavior viii. Sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands ix. Fulfilling stable relationships x. Traits( Mental health provides people with these traits) 1. Ability to Think rationally 2. Communicate appropriately 3. Learn 4. Grow emotionally 5. Be resilient (Characterized by Optimism (positive outlook on life), Sense of mastery, Competence a. Don’t take other’s moods of words personally; let them own it b. Calm down before you express you point of view; communication with respect always can open doors of understanding. 6. Have a healthy self-esteem; adequate self- concept 7. Realistic goals and reasonable function within the individual’s role c. Mental Illness: all psychiatric disorders with definable diagnoses that cause significant dysfunction in development, biological and psychological disturbances. i. unable to differentiate reality from fantasy; consistently abnormal moods, as sadness elation, hopelessness, helplessness ii. behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions iii. aggressively meets own needs without considering rights of others iv. unfulfilling relationships that are intense and unstable; may idealize one minute then devalue leading to feelings of emptiness and in some BPD( borderlines) to suicidality d. Compromised mental health of greatest concern for nurse is patients appraisal of reality, control over impulse and faulty self- concept. e. Mental illness changes with culture, time in history, political systems and groups defining it