healthcare

6 Tips for Working with Patients with Psychiatric Disorders (2025)

Goodwork author

07 May 2025 — 3 min read

Key Considerations:

Mental illness is involuntary
Prioritize self-care
Leverage support systems
Prioritize safety
Your influence is significant
Champion for those with psychiatric challenges

Mental Illness is Involuntary

During long shifts, managing your reaction to a patient’s frustration is crucial. It’s important to recognize that patients with psychiatric conditions are facing genuine struggles that they cannot control. Individuals do not choose to experience mental health challenges, and acknowledging this fact can help enhance your empathy and patience, even in difficult situations. Despite the stigma surrounding psychiatric care, mental health issues affect everyone. Understanding that mental illness is not a choice will help you respond with greater compassion.

Prioritize Self-Care

Caring for others can be exhausting both physically and emotionally. Therefore, it’s essential to prioritize your own health and well-being. With burnout on the rise, especially in the healthcare field, taking time for self-care is necessary to continue performing at your best. Nurses often work long, demanding hours, which makes finding time for personal activities challenging. However, moments of relaxation and rejuvenation are crucial. Utilize the American Nurses Association (ANA) Resources for guidance on managing stress, burnout, and mental health.

Leverage Support Systems

Healthcare workers are increasingly encouraged to use the support resources available to them. Employers often offer valuable resources to help staff stay healthy and perform their best. Additionally, several organizations provide comprehensive resources to support healthcare professionals' mental health. Some notable resources include:

At HealthStream, you can find wellness toolkits designed for nurses, along with forums for support. They offer additional wellness advice to help alleviate stress and anxiety.

Prioritize Safety

Working with psychiatric patients means being prepared for unexpected situations. Conditions can escalate quickly, posing risks to both healthcare workers and patients. To ensure your safety, familiarize yourself with best practices for managing potentially violent or unpredictable behavior. It's essential that every facility have clear procedures in place for managing difficult situations. For example, in The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Psychiatric Services, trained support teams, including nurses, coaches, therapists, and psychologists, are available to respond to violent patients. When de-escalation strategies are unsuccessful, it is vital to contact on-call clinicians and, if necessary, emergency services for safe patient transport.

Setting clear physical and verbal boundaries is also key. Use clear, direct language to address inappropriate behaviors, avoid humor that might be offensive, and establish trust through open communication. If you feel uncomfortable, it is essential to assess the situation and set appropriate limits. Always be cautious with social media and avoid accepting extravagant gifts from patients.

Psychiatric settings can involve violence, so always prioritize your safety and follow crisis protocols. Ensure that you are familiar with the training and procedures in place at your facility. Remember, you are not alone, and support is available through your team and the facility’s resources.

Your Influence is Significant

While frustration can sometimes overshadow the rewarding nature of nursing, it’s important to remember that your work profoundly impacts your patients. They place significant trust in you, and your care plays a crucial role in their healing journey. Simple acts of kindness and compassion can make a significant difference, especially when patients are emotionally vulnerable. Just as nurses have meaningful stories about patients who have touched their lives, many patients feel deeply grateful toward the nurses who care for them.

Champion for Those with Psychiatric Challenges

If something feels off or you notice changes in a patient, take action! Many patients with mental health challenges find it difficult to advocate for themselves. As their advocate, you can help by offering empathetic gestures and actively listening to their concerns. Keeping patients and their families informed can reduce anxiety about the unknown, easing their fears about future uncertainty. Trust your nursing instincts—often, you’ll notice subtle shifts in a patient’s condition before others do. Early intervention can have a significant impact on treatment outcomes.

Being a nurse requires a wide range of skills, regardless of your specialty. Whether you are pursuing psychiatric nursing or another field, we are here to support you throughout your nursing career. Explore the latest job opportunities and resources for nurses at GoodWork.