What is a community mental health nurse?

A community mental health nurse is a qualified nurser who specialises in mental health. They often visit patients in their own homes and can act as a liaison between you and your psychiatrist.

The give support where needed, answer any questions you may have, can get you help in a crisis quickly etc. If you been offered the help of one, I would definately go for it. My CPN (Community Psychiatric Nurse) was invaluable. Luckily I now don't need one as I'm doing better.

a community mental health nurse works with a community and assesses the mental health within that community and comprises a nursing diagnosis with interventions to improve the mental health within that area...

A community mental health nurse visits people with mental health problems in the community to provide support, advice, help with medication etc. They are experienced in many areas of mental health nursing including post natal depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, people experiencing suicidal thoughts. They can be a fantastic help especially when people are really quite ill as they know of a variety of support groups, can help overcome agoraphobia and anxiety and always lend a sympathetic ear.

A registered nurse specialising in mental health problems, who visits people with this kind of problem who live at home, or elsewhere in the community.

A PERSON WHO IS SENT OUT TO EVALUATE A PERSONS MENTAL WELL BEING THEY ARE ALLOCATED VARIOUS TYPES OF CASES IT COULD BE POST NATAL DEPRESSION OR BI POLPAR ETC THE TEAM CAN BE INVALUABLE I HAVE HAD BI-POLAR FOR MANY YEARS AND AM OFTEN IN AND OUT OF HOSPITAL BUT ITS THE COMMUNITY NURSE WHO SPOTS ANY CHANGES IN MY PERSONALITY HER NAME IS JACKIE AND I HAVE KNOWN HER FOR ABOUT 8YRS SHE IS FABULOUS I WOULD HAVE NO HESITATION IN RECOMMENDING SOMEONE TO A PSYCHIATRIST I BELIEVE THAT THE GOOD OLD FASHIONED CARE IN THE COMMUNITY IS VITAL

In answre to your question. It is a person who is qualified as a mental health nurse whom he or she works in your cummunity.

www.mentalhealthjobs.co.uk/nursejobs . See this website for information and job description. Basically a CPN community psychiatric nurse works closely with a patients GP/Psychiatrist and visits someone suffering from mental health problems in their own homes.

Those with mental health problems often feel very isolated as there is still a great deal of ignornace still associated with this type of health problem. And despite that someone maybe suffering with depression but not serious enough to hospitalise them, they still may not get any visitors and the CPN is often the only person they will see for weeks on end.

The CPN will discuss with the person any needs or questions they have about their illness. This will continue until the person is able to go out into the community and meet other people and get their lives back on track. Often a CPN will introduce that person to other like minded folk and encourage activity excercise to aid a complete recovery.

a mental nurse who deals with patients who have mental health problems like dementia, anorexia,depression, anxiety, schizophrenia etc in the community meaning in peoples homes

A community mental health nurse is a nurse trained specifically in mental health (not usually all the physical stuff too!). He or she will help you with support and advice for what ever mental health problem you may have, they vary in what they can do, some are trained in specific therapeutic techniques like cognitive behaviour therapy, Some are great all rounders who offer support and advice about your particular problems and may help you will some practical things too like anxiety issues or benefit forms, or medication. Here are some useful abbrieviations

CMHT - Community mental health team
CPN - Community Psychiatric nurse
RMO - Responsible medical officer (usually your psychiatrist)
RMN - Registered mental health nurse, the qualification the nurse needs whether they work in a hospital or in community.
CSW - Community support worker (an unqualified but experienced worker in mental health - can help with shopping and appointments and support as needed)
SW - Social worker (If you have more complicated issues about housing,bills, financial worries and debts)
OT - Occupational therapist (helps you build up skills again like cooking and budgeting, also does stuff like anxiety management and relaxation - not a nurse)

Oh by the way a CPN usually visits about once a fortnight but can be a bit more if needed or every four weeks if you don't need so much. Hope this helps. x

i had a community mental health nurse....they are just like any other mental health nurse but they are able to come to you instead of you going to a hospital or wherever....they are extremely helpful especially for those people that do not have a car or any forms of transport