Nursing CE for Mental Health and Psychiatric Care: A Guide Online CEUs Aspira Continuing Education

Courses featuring case-based scenarios, research-backed techniques, and diverse patient needs provide valuable insights that nurses can apply directly in practice. Educational gaps in CE programs may fail to reflect current mental health trends. Heavy workloads and irregular hours make it hard for nurses to prioritize educational growth. Finding time for continuing education while managing patient care, administrative tasks, and shift work can feel overwhelming. This continual learning cycle strengthens decision-making and builds confidence in addressing complex mental health challenges.

continuing education for nurses mental health

Sharing who will be part of their care during their stay will also set them at ease. By contrast, non-threatening body language decreases the trauma center, leaving the patient calm and non-triggered. When caring for a patient who has experienced trauma, this becomes even more impactful. The organization should partner with these support groups to ensure an easy transition from the institution to the community. Training needs to be done with all front-line staff whom the patient may confide in. On the other hand, those who can form positive relationships tend to have fewer physical symptoms and are more likely to have adjusted to childhood trauma.

Urine drug screening can be useful in patients with suspected opiate abuse disorder as it may identify concurrently abused substances. Naloxone therapy should be considered for all patients who are at high risk of opioid overdose. “Before starting and periodically during opioid therapy, clinicians should discuss with patients known risks and realistic benefits of opioid therapy and patient and clinician responsibilities for managing therapy” (5). This can include physical therapy, meditation, exercise/movement, treatment of underlying depression and/or psychiatric issues, meditation, modification of Schizophrenia Patient Education Resources aggravating factors, and many more interventions. Nurses can use the knowledge in this course to help change the course of patients and reduce the risk of opioid abuse. Therefore, it is our responsibility to not only offer the necessary medical support but also to advocate for our patients, ensuring they have access to the resources and support systems needed to manage their condition.

Course topics often include cultural competency, addiction, telehealth practices, and other relevant areas of mental health care. To prevent injury in mental health crises, clinicians may need to restrain patients, administer tranquilizing drugs, or place patients in seclusion against their will. Patient rights refers to a general statement adopted by most healthcare professionals that covers matters including access to care, patient dignity, confidentiality, and consent to treatment. There currently are many state, federal, and case laws that affect the treatment of people with psychiatric disorders. Usually, treatment for psychotic depression is given in a hospital setting, where the patient can be closely monitored by mental health professionals.

ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification Renewal Bundle

Collaboration between the school and medical systems ensures the interventions are carried out beyond the home setting. A final consideration is the utilization and improvement of the interdisciplinary care team. Support groups can provide the caregiver with connection, validation, and coping strategies. These interventions help the caregiver process stress, grief, and emotional fatigue. There is significant misunderstanding or stigma around developmental, behavioral, and physical disabilities.

continuing education for nurses mental health

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  • Would virtual flexibility or a more interactive environment suit your educational needs?
  • PCSS-MOUD provides free training and mentoring to practitioners on the use of medications for OUD (MOUD) and the integration of these services into mainstream health care.
  • Such traumas included increased (nearly impossible) workloads, poor patient outcomes, and virtually no support system availability.
  • As individuals living with both diagnoses, increased knowledge and expertise in these two areas must be in place for these special individuals to receive the necessary and adequate care they each deserve.
  • The psychological, social, genetic, and environmental contributors to the misuse of alcohol and other substances, such as opioids.
  • It is structured, time-limited, focuses on interpersonal relationships and communication, on present relationships, and attempts to improve interpersonal functioning and support (20, 21).

Finally, since long-term care is ultimately what all patients need, nurses should be aware of the resources available for each patient population. Though the ED is not a long-term solution for mental health management, it remains the primary intake point for most people experiencing psychiatric distress (1). Unfortunately, due to limited budgets and other constraints, mental health services in the U.S. are wildly inadequate to support the needs of those experiencing a psychiatric emergency. The patient of emotional abuse may be kept isolated from home healthcare providers who can’t see the patient and will have canceled visits (2). Throughout this course, we explored how nurses can provide care that is not only evidence-based but also holistic, including integrating pharmacological treatments, behavioral interventions, and spiritual and emotional support. Recent studies show that when nurses intentionally integrate spiritual care, they significantly enhance patients’ psychological comfort and motivation for healing (5).

continuing education for nurses mental health

One Year of All Access Online CE with Over 800 ASWB/APA Hours and 400 NBCC Hours Available

continuing education for nurses mental health

It is also often used for those who are struggling with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, substance use, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder (Psychology Today, n.d.-a). CBT is the evidence-based treatment recommendation for anxiety and depression. CBT is evidence-based and one of the most widely used forms of therapy (Psychology Today, 2022). We will spend just a few minutes discussing a couple of these types of therapy to give you an idea of why there are different types and indications for use. PMHNPs are educated and certified to provide medication management with psychotropics, but they can also be trained to provide therapy services.

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