Mental Health Nurse

Client Name: University Of Sussex

Role: Registered Mental Health Nurse

Shifts: Flexible hours, with shifts available throughout the day, night and at weekends.

Benefits:

• Competitive pay rates
• First sight of agency nursing shifts across multiple trusts
• Next-day payroll
• Block bookings in your favourite locations
• Excellent support from your own dedicated consultant
• Revalidation support
• 24/7/365 service - we're available when you need us

Medacs Healthcare is looking for nursing professionals who specialise in mental health to work flexible shifts at University of Sussex. Responsible for forming trusting relationships with your patients, your goal will be to help those individuals to lead happier, healthier lives. You should be a fully qualified Mental Health Nurse, who is registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

You will primarily be working with people experiencing a range of mental health illnesses including, but not limited to; depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, OCD, eating disorders, paranoia, psychosis, schizophrenia and generalised behavioural or emotional problems. It is a varied position where you will not only use traditional medical and nursing techniques to monitor patients' physical and mental health but will provide a great deal of emotional support too. You will assist people in taking medications correctly, advise on social activities and available therapies to help their wellbeing. Often you will be a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen.

Development and opportunities

There are opportunities for you to specialise in many areas within mental health, such as working with children and young people, those with drug and alcohol addiction, or offenders who are in prison. You could be based in the community, in hospitals, people's homes, rehabilitation centres or care homes. It's an adaptable position which can see you working in a wide range of settings - many mental health care providers move across different environments throughout their career.

Skills focus

As an RMN, you will work closely with a wider team of colleagues comprising doctors, therapists, psychiatrists, and social workers. For this reason, it is important to be a team player, with excellent communication skills.

General key skills

In addition to your qualifications, as a Mental Health Nurse, you will have:

• A good understanding of mental health conditions, symptoms, and treatments
• First-class communication skills
• The ability to establish trusting relationships quickly
• Strong judgement
• The ability to make important, life-changing (and lifesaving) decisions
• Persuasiveness
• Empathy and understanding
• Excellent listening skills
• Excellent organisation and time management skills
• Stamina and good under pressure
• Resilience, the ability to instil some emotional distance and switch off outside of work
• The ability to work as part of a wider team
• A genuine passion for improving people's lives and wellbeing

Main Duties/Responsibilities

As an RMN with University of Sussex, you will:

• Playing a key role in the care and rehabilitation of mental health patients
• Meeting patients daily, providing tailored, support plans in line with their specific diagnosis/prognosis
• Arranging any ongoing, long-term support for after a patient leaves your care
• Building trusting relationships with patients, putting them at ease
• Listening and talking to patients, offering advice and reassurance
• Working closely with other mental healthcare professionals to agree the most appropriate treatment plans for those in your care
• Working with and advising relatives and carers on patient conditions, outlooks, treatment, and progress
• Keeping medical records up to date
• Regularly carrying out any standard physical health checks that may be required, such as monitoring patients' vital statistics, blood tests, etc.
• Administering medication as appropriate
• Talking through available therapies, support networks, social activities that may help to improve mental health and wellbeing
• Managing workloads and shift patterns for yourself (and sometimes others)
• Maintaining a positive attitude, even in difficult situations
• Promoting mental health initiatives, reducing stigma associated with mental health
• Staying up to date with mental health best practice and theory

Qualifications/Licenses/Certifications

Essential

• Be a registered nurse.
• At least 2 years post-graduate experience.
• 6 months recent NHS experience within the last 3 years.
• You will need to pass an enhanced background check.

If you are looking for a Mental Health nursing role within a Trust that is continuously striving to achieve excellence and embody its core values, apply today and be a part of something amazing.