The field of mental health can be one of the most difficult for the nursing profession. It is estimated that as many as one out of three people has some type of mental health problem. There are a large number of disorders, such as psychological and personality problems, psychoses and neuroses. For many people with a mental problem, it is the result of some kind of crisis that has occurred, such as the death of a spouse. A mental health LPN may work in a variety of facilities such as a community health care center; the majority of mentally ill patients are not treated in hospitals. The LPN usually performs his or her duties as part of a team that includes registered nurses, psychiatrists, and social workers.

Because of the nature of many mental illnesses, there is a danger of violence in this nursing speciality. Mental health LPN’s need to be able to detect when a patient may be about to flare up. They also need to be able to have empathy with the patients they are taking care of and demonstrate to them that they genuinely care about them. There is still a stigma associated with mental disorders and the duties of a mental health LPN include doing things to lessen this stigma in the minds of patients. Another task that may be more difficult in a mental health setting is assistance to patients with personal hygiene and bathing, since they may be more reluctant to co-operate as compared to a mentally healthy patient.

The duties of a mental health LPN are clearly more challenging than in most other areas of nursing care. However, the rewards can also be very powerful. Helping a patient emerge from a deep depression can be very satisfying indeed.