Mental Health Nursing Evaluation Form: A Patient Assessment Guide

Abstract

Nursing notes are essential for mental health nursing, and thus they should be included in mental health education for undergraduate nursing students. In clinical settings, It has been observed that fourth-year nursing students commonly omitted critical information from the assessment of mentally ill patients, neglecting their requirements as well as losing valuable learning opportunities. For this reason, an evaluation form has been created and implemented in order to optimise the student’s learning opportunities. The main objectives that motivated the design of this instrument were to support the nursing student’s learning process, promote a systematic record of the mental examination, and apply specific descriptors in the assessment of the patient’s mental state. This evaluation form was designed according to a systematic and standardized registration system, including the main areas that compose mental health assessment. This cost-effective tool has significantly facilitated the student’s learning and training in mental health nursing. During the five-year period in which this instrument has been applied, student records improved in quality, precision, as well as a positive opinion about it from students. Besides, this document has been recently used in the context of distance education and clinical simulation in mental health by assessing patients in simulated situations, with positive outcomes