A mental health nurse is a nurse that has specialised training in mental health. They can work within the community or within a hospital setting. Within the community they aim to build positive trusting relationships with people who use their service and may help them manage their physical health and any medication they may be taking. Within a hospital setting they will be able to dispense medicines and help people to manage their distress.
Mental health nurses also play an important role in ensuring that relatives and carers are informed, within the limits of confidentiality, about what is happening and will signpost to other resources that may be helpful.
Also they will work with the other professionals involved in the persons care as part of a multi-disciplinary team which may include social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, support workers, peer workers and occupational therapists.