Mental health Nursing is related to the pivotal role of mental health nurses in providing the overall and effective care to people suffering from mental problems and emotional up heals. Today Mental Health Nursing has become the integral part of all nursing programs.

The mental health nursing professionals are employed in various patient care settings, including mental health centers, hospitals with special wing for Psychiatric patients, government set up mental health units, universities,  community colleges, mental health clinic and private doctor’s office, military service and both state and federal prisons in America.

Basically, the function of the mental health nursing professional is to find out the status of mental health of the patient, his treatment requirements and prepare effective treatment plans. The treatment of mental health can be termed as specialized treatment, as the cure not only relates to patients mental illness but also necessitates preventing, further deterioration of the condition.

Thus, the nursing of patient by a mental health nurse includes: a) work with patient and his family to determine the mental status of the patient. b) Improve patient’s coping capability and prevent further deterioration of the condition. c) Provide a treatment combining mental and standard health care. d) Offer counseling services.

In general the Mental Health Nursing is provided in two levels, which includes:

Basic: In this level the registered nurses interacts with individuals, families, groups, communities and societies to diagnosis the mental problem, prepare the nursing plan and implement the plan accessing  mental condition of the patient.

Advanced: In advanced level of training, nurses needs to acquire degrees in Masters Degrees in Psychiatric Nursing, which facilitates them to work as a Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist. Their function is mainly to provide nursing care and diagnosis psychiatric disorders and problems. They work in different health care units, long term care units, nursing homes, hospital administrators, faculties in community colleges and universities, and so on.

A  Nurse can pursue, 2 years associate degree program, hospital based 3 years diploma in nursing or 4 years degree in psychiatric nursing. The graduation in any of these degrees offers them, Certification as Registered Nurse.

Degrees in advanced practice registered nursing make them eligible for Gero-psychiatric Nursing, Substance Abuse and Child-Adolescent Mental Health Nursing. Even specialization for consolation specialization is available for counseling people suffering from psychiatric problems or physical illnesses.

It is also necessary that Mental Health Nurse should posses reasoning power, patience, understanding and compassion for effective nursing cure of the people suffering from psychiatric disorders, emotional up heals and problems.