Engagement and Therapeutic Communication in Mental Health Nursing (Transforming Nursing Practice Series)

By Sandra Walker
Being able to engage with service users and communicate effectively is a fundamental skill identified by the NMC and required of all mental health nurses. The reality is that building rapport and developing therapeutic relationships does not come instinctively for everyone. The authors have responded to this with a book that explains the different communication theories and models and goes on to show students how they work in the real world. Innovative exercises encourage reflection and enable students to practice their developing communication skills as they progress. Throughout the book the authors are focussed on promoting recovery and have put the service user at the centre of the discussion, ensuring that their voice is heard.

Have you ever wondered how mental health nurses are able to build rapport and effectively communicate with their service users? It is a fundamental skill identified by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and necessary for all mental health nurses. However, not everyone possesses this skill naturally. Thankfully, authors Sandra Walker and her team have recognized this need and have written a book that explains different communication theories and models, and demonstrates how they work in the real world.

In their book, the authors take a person-centered approach, with a focus on promoting recovery. They put the service user at the center of the discussion, ensuring that their voice is heard. This is an important aspect of mental health nursing, as it empowers service users and allows them to actively participate in their own recovery process.

One of the key features of this book is its coverage of the communication content of the new NMC Standards and Essential Skills Clusters for pre-registration degree-level nursing education. This ensures that the book is aligned with the latest requirements and will be relevant to current and future mental health nursing students.

The book is written in an interactive style, using realistic scenarios and case studies that make the theory easy to apply to practice. This approach allows the reader to engage with the content and see how it can be implemented in real-life situations. Additionally, the authors have included innovative exercises that encourage reflection and enable students to practice their developing communication skills as they progress.

An interesting aspect of this book is that it includes a chapter co-authored by a service user. This offers a unique insight into the experiences and perspectives of the individuals who receive mental health care. By including the voice of a service user, the authors further emphasize the importance of their opinions and experiences in shaping mental health care practices.

The book is published by Learning Matters and is available in its first edition, which was released on May 30, 2014. It is written in English and is also available as an eBook, with a digital version comprising 160 pages. The ISBN-10 for the print version is 1446274799, and the ISBN-13 is 978-1446274798.

Now, let’s dive into a review of this book. Overall, “Communicating in Mental Health Nursing” is a valuable resource for mental health nursing students and professionals. The authors have successfully tackled the complex subject of communication in mental health care and have presented it in an accessible and practical way.

One of the strengths of this book is its person-centered approach. The authors emphasize the importance of building therapeutic relationships and treating service users as partners in their own care. By adopting this approach, mental health nurses can create a safe and supportive environment that fosters trust and enables effective communication.

The authors also do an excellent job of explaining the different communication theories and models, making them understandable and applicable in real-life situations. The inclusion of interactive exercises and case studies further enhances the learning experience and provides practical examples for students to learn from.

Additionally, the chapter co-authored by a service user adds a unique perspective to the book. It allows the reader to gain insight into the experiences and thoughts of the individuals who receive mental health care. This inclusion is crucial in promoting a holistic approach to care and ensuring that the voices of service users are heard and valued.

While the book covers the communication content of the NMC Standards and Essential Skills Clusters, it also goes beyond the requirements. The authors focus on promoting recovery and have placed the service user at the center of the discussion. This not only aligns with current best practices in mental health care but also encourages mental health nurses to think critically and reflect on their own communication skills.

The interactive style of the book is a key strength. The realistic scenarios and case studies allow the reader to see how the theories and models can be applied in practice. This practical application is essential for mental health nursing students, as it helps bridge the gap between theory and real-world situations.

In terms of improvements, it would have been beneficial to include more examples of effective communication in challenging situations. Mental health nursing can often involve complex and sensitive conversations, and having more guidance on navigating these scenarios would have been valuable. Additionally, some readers may have preferred more in-depth coverage of specific communication techniques or strategies.

Despite these minor shortcomings, “Communicating in Mental Health Nursing” is a must-read for anyone interested in or studying mental health nursing. The authors’ person-centered approach, focus on promoting recovery, and inclusion of a service user perspective make this book both informative and inspiring.

If you are a mental health nursing student or a professional looking to enhance your communication skills, this book is an invaluable resource. It will provide you with the knowledge and practical tools needed to effectively engage with service users and provide person-centered care.

Order your copy of “Communicating in Mental Health Nursing” today and take the first step towards becoming a skilled and compassionate mental health nurse.

Product Details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Learning Matters; 1st edition (May 30, 2014)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1446274799
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1446274798