QUESTIONS PUT TO MATRON OJO (of The Retreat Healthcare).
Matron, can you please give us a practical understanding of the role of a psychiatric nurse and what means to be a psychiatric nurse?
Matron-Ojo: Think of a psychiatric nurse as an individual who uses his or her brain and mind to fix the brain and mind of others.
To be a psychiatric Nurse is to be an highly specialised Nurse who is well-equipped to work to improve or support the mental and physical well-being of people with mental health or behavioural conditions, shatter the stigma associated with mental illness and mend the minds of the affected and their significant others.
What do you find fulfilling about your work?
Matron-Ojo: The fact that it’s a nursing specialty that improves for better, not only the lives of the teeming consumers of its services but also that of the psychiatric nurse himself or herself.
How does one qualify to become a psychiatric nurse and how long is the training?
Matron-Ojo: *First Pathway 👇 *
1. Earn a Registered Nurse Certificate from an accredited School or College of Nursing (a 3years programme ) or University with accredited Department of Nursing (5 years programme).
- Then, earn a Registered Psychiatric/ Mental Health Nurse Certificate from an accredited School of Post Basic Psychiatric Nursing (18 months programme)
*Second Pathway👇 *
1. Complete a Bachelor of Nursing Sciences from University with accredited Department of Nursing
and also earn registered Nurse certificate (5 years programme)
- Earn a Masters degree in Nursing Sciences from a University with accredited Department of Nursing (1 and half to two years programme)
- Register for and pass the NMCN professional exam for Psychiatric /Mental Nurse in an accredited School of Post Basic Psychiatric/ Mental Health Nursing ( just, register, sit and pass the exam).
What tips can you give parents who have a child struggling with mental health issues?
Matron-Ojo: 1. Know for a fact that treatment works especially with early diagnosis and prompt treatment.
- Show love and empathy to the child.
- Separate the Mental issue from the Child.
- Seek treatment from qualified professionals, ensure adherence to treatment and follow-up.
- Take care of your own mental health.
What is your role as Matron?
Matron-Ojo: My role as a Matron is so numerous 😄 However, I will mention a few
👉 Overseeing the day to day running of the unit.
From making requests for both perishable and non perishable tools for work to ensuring that waste is curtailed to the bearest minimum level as much as is possible.
👉 Ensuring the best standard is used for patients care.
👉 Communicating the needs of the staffs to the management, bridging communication gap and ensuring good working condition for staffs.
- 👉 Ensuring good and adequate staffing, Making request for more staffs where necessary
- 👉 Bridging gaps between physicians and nurses as well as other members of health professionals
- 👉 Overseeing roster casting
- 👉 Ensuring safety of staffs and clients
- 👉 Infection control and cleanliness
- 👉 Keeping staffs abreast of current trends in the care of clients
- 👉 Monitoring of staff, to enhance quality health care
- 👉 Ensuring adequate and proper documentation of care
- 👉 And of course, giving moral, physical, emotional support where needed