- 16 December 2019
- 4 min read
What mental health nurses actually do
Despite the common misconception, mental health nursing is not just about organising fun events in nursing homes as PICU Charge Nurse, Ben, explains.

Not only are the potential roles for an RMN extremely wide and varied (there’s a bit more to it than organising bingo in a nursing home) the remit of the mental health nurse is not entirely rigid or pre-determined from one institution to another.
As such, mental health nursing is as determined by regional differences in service provision and demographics as the needs of the particular patient group.
Nursing communicators
As a general rule, but increasingly not always the case, many newly qualified mental health nurses will find positions in acute care settings, working with those patients detained under the Mental Health Act.
In this role the nurse will act as advocate for the patient’s rights, will engage with friends and families to both inform and support, develop a package of care with the patient and ensure that the patient is adhering to his/her treatment plan (the often contentious matter of taking prescribed medication).
Most wards actively promote patients’ involvement in group activities and will involve themselves in these groups and similarly make themselves available to those activities and events outside the hospital, where staffing levels permit.
Patient planning
Ward or acute nurses will liaise with community mental health teams and plan with these teams and the patient for his/her discharge, ensuring that accommodation and appropriate support packages are in place.
A nurse may choose to work with older persons, female or male patients or in Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICU), secure units or prisons.
Senior nurses also assist in the management of Assessment Suites for those persons detained by the police on Section 136 MHA.
Community mental health nursing
The community mental health nurse often has a large patient group to manage and will work with this patient group to monitor mental health, assist in social needs, adhere to care packages and work at relapse prevention. Learn more.
This work places a greater emphasis on the individual worker who will take responsibility for their patients group as opposed to the ward nurse who shares responsibility of care with the wider ward team.
Community teams themselves may undertake varied roles, Crisis Resolution, Assertive Outreach, Assessment teams (at both general hospitals and mental health hospitals), Court Diversion and Liaison, Street Triage (with the police).
Again, none of these roles can be clearly defined as Care Commissioning Groups have varied requirements of the provision of mental health services.
Manage care pathways
The one constant is that the nurse will be expected to offer legal and pastoral support, to manage complex care pathways, engage with the wider Multi Disciplinary Team, police and custodial services, distressed families and sometimes, a challenging patient group.
Related articles
• What does a Mental Health Nurse do?
• What is forensic mental health, and how did I end up working in it?
• Like this article? Subscribe to The Nurses Weekly
Charge Nurse on a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
About the author
Charge Nurse on a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
I'm a Charge Nurse with twelve years post-qualifying experience currently working within the NHS on an all-male Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
Want to get involved in the discussion
Sign In JoinRead something else
My Experience Of Joining The Covid-19 Temporary Register
Following up a previous blog on returning to nursing during the pandemic, Former Nurse, Thijs Mostert, describes the technical hiccups that have further delayed the process.
What Do Interviewers Look For In Child And Adolescent Mental Health Services CAMHS Nurses?
Mental Health Nurse, Rachel, examines which extra skills are required in CAMHS Nursing and gives her advice on how to succeed in your next CAMHS Interview.
How to Assess Mental Capacity: A Guide for Newly Qualified Nurses
Dementia Psychiatrist and Founder of Hometouch, Jamie Wilson, discusses why being able to assess mental capacity is such an important clinical skill, and how you can add it to your arsenal.
Latest Jobs
Registered Nurse
Durham, Durham, England
Leaders In Care
Registered Mental Health Nurse
Glenrothes, Fife, Scotland
Appoint Healthcare
Senior Mental Health Nurse
Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England
Career Builder Sourcing Solutions
Registered General Nurse RGN
Henbury, Bristol, City of Bristol, England
Vetro Recruitment
Ward Manager
Birmingham, West Midlands, England
Time Recruitment Solutions
RMN Deputy Ward Manager
Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, England
SYK Recruitment
See all of our Mental health nurse jobs
1718 jobs currently available