What are some common myths about Psychiatric Nursing?
I think the film industry has not always been kind to nursing, and especially psychiatric nursing. I think this can be understood when we consider that mental illness is misunderstood and feared in our society. Unfortunately, people with mental illness are usually portrayed as frightening and manipulative, yet are not any more dangerous than the general population. The reality is that everyone is susceptible to mental illness in the right situation, and we are not facing that reality when we fail to treat people with the respect that they deserve. Psychiatric nurses are held to high standards of protecting patient rights, and we work hard to protect their privacy, their dignity and health.
