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By KARen RiCe yOu At yOuR BeSt Nurses play so many different roles within the health care community. We often think of them as helping people overcome physical ailments, but they can be just as vital to people with mental health issues. Psychiatric mental health nurses provide specialized care to patients who have been diagnosed with psychiatric disorders. Jenny Gilreath, LPN, is a clinic nurse at Northwest Arkansas Psychiatry, a MANA Clinic. She says her job working with psychiatric patients involves patient education, assistance with medication management, giving therapeutic injections, getting medications approved by insurance, scribing, and assisting with treatments, as well as working closely with patients who are having urgent needs or whose safety is at risk. "Much of my job is helping to create a line of communication between the providers and the patient when they're having questions or concerns," she points out. Jenny says she originally decided to become a nurse to help underserved populations, who did not get an equal opportunity with the healthcare that they needed due to social bias, lack of awareness, or misrepresentation. "I've been a nurse for close to 13 years and this continues to be important to me and something I am passionate about, probably even more so now," she notes. She feels that part of her job is "seeing the patient as a whole person who needs care mentally, physically, and emotionally," and "giving individual care for a person based on their unique needs. I want my patients to feel like their concerns are valid and we are there to help them." Jenny has found the field of psychiatric nursing challenging, but rewarding. "People often think of psychiatry as hard or emotionally draining, and it can be, but it's also really fun," she says. "I meet some of the most kind and interesting people with my job and I'm so grateful for that. I feel very fortunate that the people I meet teach me to be more understanding and caring of others." One of the challenges, Jenny says, are the misconceptions of patients who seek mental health care, as well as the lack of options for that care. But she believes that this barrier can be broken down with increased awareness about mental health. "It shouldn't be any different than seeking help for physical concerns," she notes. "I'm lucky to work with an amazing team of providers and staff who truly care for our patients," Jenny continued. "Patients come to us during really hard times, and often are embarrassed or feel ashamed, and I think our team does a great job of letting them know they aren't alone. My absolute favorite part is watching someone get better, reconnecting with their interests, family, friends, and feeling like they have hope again. Seeing them feel relief for the first time since starting their treatment is the ultimate reward." Psychiatric mental health nurses can specialize in various areas if they so desire. Some areas of specialty include child and adolescent mental health nursing, gerontological-psychiatric nursing, which focuses on caring for older adults, and substance abuse disorders. Anyone considering a career in nursing can visit www.apna.org to learn more about the vital role psychiatric mental health nurses play in modern health care. The vital role of Jenny gilreath, LPn "patients come to us during really hard times, and often are embarrassed or feel ashamed, and i think our team does a great job of letting them know they aren't alone." ~ Jenny Gilreath, lpN psychiatric mental health nurses 8 | yOu at yOur Best | yOuatyOurBest.NWaONliNe.cOM May - Best Nurses | suNday, april 25, 2021