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Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing

Introduction

Psychiatric-Mental Health NursingIntroduction
Black and white photo of two adult hands holding the feet of a small baby that is blurry in the background.
Figure 24.1 Understanding the psychiatric-mental health issues that can affect young people and older adults is important for a nurse to care for clients across the lifespan. (credit: “Ada’s feet” by Christian Haugen/flickr, CC BY 2.0)

Chapter Outline

24.1 Healthcare Concerns and Decisions of Older Adults
24.2 Depression
24.3 Anxiety
24.4 Delirium
24.5 Alcohol Use
24.6 Pain
24.7 Psychiatric-Mental Healthcare Nursing Interventions

The fastest-growing portion of the population, older adults, will call for nurses and other health-care professionals with specialized training to meet their needs. A holistic approach to nursing care for the older adult population is necessary to address the physical, psychological, social, and economic factors that affect the health of older persons. People age differently, so there are variations in older adults’ physical, psychological, and cognitive health. Even though aging is associated with typical physiological changes, many people disregard symptoms by incorrectly attributing them to age. For instance, many older persons misunderstand the pain associated with arthritis and wrongly think it is a natural part of becoming older. As a result, they do not seek treatment, which results in a reduction in physical activity and an increased risk of acquiring chronic disease. Older clients can benefit from receiving specialized nursing care and client education that will help them take charge of their health.

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