#ind2019

So this week we have been celebrating the wonderful profession that is nursing, every year we get this time where we are highlighted and given the time to express how much we love our job and also how much respect we have for each other. Today the 12th May is officially National Nurses Day and what a day to celebrate as its the anniversary of Florence nightingale birth. 

Nursing is one of those professions where I feel we are proud to say we offer skills, expertise, technical expertise, technical excellence with the emotional expertise. Nurses in general add value on a profound moment in peoples lives, there are not many people that you encounter that dont have a story to tell about the impact a nurse has had on their life and the support they have either given to them or their family member. To be able to support someone in their most difficult and vulnerable time and hopefully make even the smallest difference to their lives at this point. 

Each nurse i speak with all seem to have the same out look that we fight for a better and safer care for patients which is at the heart of what we do, we share commitment to supporting the health and well being of everyone using health and social care services across the UK. We are regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery council (NMC) who we believe are in the process of developing a five -year strategy over the next 12 months, launching April 2020. 

I get the pleasure to say that I am a nurse and have chosen to specialise in mental health, i love being a nurse although at times its a challenge in its self with the lack of money, long hours that on most days dont finish when they should and of course the night shifts is certainly a tough one. Although having said all those negatives there are many more positives that out way this and they are the reason i chose and stay in the profession. Despite the stigma surrounding mental illness approximately 1 in 4 adults experience mental illness in any given year and 1 in 10 children. There are 5 most common mental health disorders which include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance abuse, ADD and ADHD. There needs to be more awareness of mental illness and the affect it can have on people, more awareness of topics such as stress, relationships, loneliness, altruism, sleep, anxiety, alcohol and friendship which especially in younger adults have a great impact on how they perceive themselves with the added pressure of social media. Hopefully one day the stigma behind this illness will be resolved and mental health can be treated in line with physical health and give the same response. 

I have the most challenging and rewarding job, i get to work alongside my physical health colleagues in an A&E department and also on the medical wards, assessing and supporting patients with perceived mental illness through this pathway or assessing them in A&E in their crisis points and make the decision to refer to varying service lines, suggest hospital admission, which can be either informally or under the mental health act or even suggest intensive support at home. I am honoured to be doing this role and the impact i can have on peoples lives doing a job i love. Also working along side other clinical specialities and seeing our expertise work alongside each other in order to give the patient the best support and meet their needs in a therapeutic and beneficial way.