Mental health is an important aspect of wellbeing and deserves just as much specialized care as physical ailments do. Behavioral health nurses in particular play a key role in caring for individuals with mental health-related conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse. These nurses can work in both inpatient and outpatient settings with pediatric, adult, or geriatric populations. 

According to the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, behavioral health registered nurses and nurse practitioners (APRNs) make up the second largest cohort of behavioral health professionals. There is a high demand for nurses with the passion and skillset to manage mental health disorders. Although slightly different from typical floor nursing, behavioral health nursing still requires a strong background in psychosocial care, neurobiology, and bedside skills. 

If you’re curious about what behavioral health nurses do, here is a typical day in the life of these compassionate individuals:

Starting the day

Like any nursing floor, the day begins with receiving a shift report from the previous nurse. This may take longer, depending on the volume of patients on the floor and how many noteworthy events occurred overnight. Nurses will typically round door to door to visualize the patients and ensure that they are safe and present. In an acute care facility, it’s especially important to do frequent visual safety checks in the surrounding environment as some patients are at high-risk for self harm. Depending on the facility, patients are either allowed to roam freely in common areas or under closer monitoring with a sitter. 

Assessments

A holistic assessment of a patient will require a thorough psychosocial examination, along with evaluating basic vital signs and conducting a full head-to-toe assessment. A deep look into the patient’s chart and history is also important to understand why they were admitted. Although these patients primarily present mental health disorders, they may have comorbid conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure that need medical management. 

Patients can also display symptoms such as auditory hallucinations or have active thoughts of self-harm, so it is important to ask questions and closely observe features around mood, effects, and behavior. Additionally, patients may be taking an array of medications with many side effects. Nurses will need to be informed of these possible side effects, as they can affect multiple body systems. 

Establishing a connection

Throughout the day, there are multiple opportunities to establish rapport with patients. Nurses will pass scheduled medications to each assigned patient and deliver any PRN (as needed) medications. Depending on how much the patient wants to divulge, there could be an opportunity to talk about their overall mental health condition and feelings around treatment progress. Having strong therapeutic communication skills and insight can help the patient feel safe and comfortable enough to share. 

This time can also be used to provide education and address any concerns with medications, symptoms, and other treatment modalities. Nurses collaborate with a team of staff members such as physicians, mental health counselors, substance abuse counselors, social workers, and case managers to support the patient during their stay. 

End of Shift

The end of day looks similar to the beginning. A shift report is given to the oncoming staff, while ensuring that the day's events are accurately charted. Overall, a regular day may consist of a mix of scheduled group activities, medication passes, frequent communication, observations of patients’ behavior, and coordination of the intake of new patients while discharging those who are ready to transition out of the facility. Sometimes, nurses may have to attend to psychiatric or even medical emergencies. It is true that no day looks the same, and taking care of this vulnerable population can be difficult but rewarding. 

Are you curious about the pay for a behavioral health nurse? Reach out to our team for a free salary estimate. If this article has inspired you to find your next nursing adventure, schedule your free 15-minute EARN Evaluation with a registered nurse. Tell us your ideal work environment, pay, location, and shift preference, and we will match you with the full-time position you need—without the hassle of searching on your own.