Mental Health Nursing Job Description

Registered Mental Health Nurses (RMN) look after those who require inpatient or outpatient care for a mental illness or long-term mental health condition. You’ll find lots of RMN roles with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde right here with Medacs. There are lots of temporary positions, allowing you to stay in control of where, when and how much you work.

What do Mental Health Nurses do?

RMNs play a key role in delivering care for those with mental illnesses, or who are experiencing an acute period of ill mental health. RMNs can work in lots of different settings, including inpatient facilities, hospitals, community clinics, GP practices and in the community visiting patients in their homes. You could choose to specialise in a number of areas, including children and young people or dementia care.

Your daily responsibilities will vary depending on where you work, but you can expect to:

• Monitor patients’ key observations such as weight and important factors such as mood and symptoms
• Document patients’ daily progress
• Take samples such as blood, urine and stools
• Help with personal care and medications
• Encourage patients to eat, drink and stick to their treatment plans
• Discuss patient care with other clinical staff to get the best outcome
• Speak to patients’ families to update them on treatment and progress

You may work with a number of other healthcare professionals, including:

• Social and support workers
• Psychotherapists and clinical psychologists
• Counsellors and wellbeing practitioners
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) practitioners
• Occupational therapists
• Community disability nurses

What qualifications and experience do Mental Health Nurses need?

To work as an RMN through Medacs, you’ll need to:

• Have completed a mental health or generic nursing degree with a postgraduate mental health nursing qualification OR
• Have completed a nursing apprenticeship equivalent
• Have six months of recent, relevant UK experience, gained within the last three years
• Pass an enhanced background check
• Be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

If you’re returning to nursing after a different career, you’ll need to complete a Return to Practice (RTP) course.

You’ll also need a few key skills and attributes, such as:

• Ability to stay calm in stressful, challenging situations
• Strong communication, often with distressed individuals
• Empathy and a caring personality
• Ability to work as part of a wider care team
• Problem solving and patience
• Close observational skills

Your next steps

Registering with Medacs puts you in total control of your career as a Registered Mental Health Nurse, with lots of temporary RMN shifts across Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Get a first look at agency-allocated shifts and lots of exciting benefits, including next-day payroll, on-demand wellbeing support and your own dedicated support consultant.