Table of Contents

* INTRODUCTION * RECOVERY AND RECOVERY-ORIENTED PRACTICE * Recovery 'Star' * MENTAL STATE EXAMINATION (MSE) * Key areas of assessment * SELF-HARM RISK ASSESSMENT * Assessing for potential risk of suicide * MENTAL ILLNESS: AN OVERVIEW * Definitions * SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESS * Symptoms associated with depression, mania and anxiety * Possible signs of mental health problems * MEDICATIONS USED IN MENTAL HEALTH * NEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANT SYNDROME (NMS) * Medications associated with NMS * Extra pyramidal side effects (EPSE) * ASSESSING SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS * Pre- and postnatal depression * Geriatric depression * Assessing risk of self-harm * TOPICS FOR PSYCHO-EDUCATION * EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) MENTAL HEALTH * TRIAGE * Treatment acuity * MEDICATION SAFETY * Written medication orders * Telephone medication orders * Medication dosages * Medication routes * Metric equivalents * DRUG SCHEDULING SYSTEM * INTOXICATION * Standard drinks * Features of intoxication * CLINICAL HANDOVER TIPS * ISBAR * CLINICAL DOCUMENTATION * The SOAP approach * Example of an inpatient clinical audit tool * QUICK RELAXATION TECHNIQUES * COMMON ABBREVIATIONS * USEFUL RESOURCES

About the Author

Professor Lorna Moxham started nursing in 1980 and is a 3-year specialist hospital-trained psychiatric nurse. Lorna is passionate about the nursing profession, particularly mental health nursing, and is actively contributing at regional, state, national and international levels.

Kerry Reid-Searl is currently a Professor of Innovation and Simulation in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Tasmania. Kerry has been involved in nursing education for more than 30 years and over this time she has remained clinically current. Her research interests include patient safety, simulation, paediatrics and wound care.

Professor Trudy Dwyer has extensive learning and teaching expertise in both undergraduate and postgraduate research higher-degree programs. She has authored numerous books, book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles and is a principal author of the Student Survival Guide series published by Pearson Australia. Her program of research is Quality and Safety in Healthcare, with a focus on recognition and responding to clinical deterioration, nurse-led models of care, simulation and knowledge translation.

Paul Robson is a Consultation Liaison Mental Health Nurse at CQMental Health Service.

Dr Marc Broadbent has a clinical background in critical care and emergency nursing and his main area of expertise is in trauma and emergency nursing with a specialised knowledge of emergency triage. Marc has worked as a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Educator and Nurse Manager in emergency departments within Australia and overseas.