Nursing Component Task
Nursing procedures & clinical learning

Community Mental Health Nursing (RCMN)

A VISIT TO TRADITIONAL OR FAITH-BASED HEALERS

This is a purposeful visit by the RCPN to a Traditional or Faith Based healer's establishments where patients suffering from mental illness among others are camped. The nurse renders care with respect to the clients' identified health needs.

Purpose

  • Educate clients and caregivers on the WHO's Quality Rights of persons living with mental illness
  • Inspect license of the institution
  • Identify new clients
  • Follow up on known clients
  • Educate and promote best practices in the camp
  • Help initiate referral processes for clients who need further treatment
  • Reduce complications

Indications

  • Visits to traditional or faith-based healers where clients with mental illness are managed.
  • Educating clients and caregivers on the WHO Quality Rights of persons living with mental illness.
  • Identifying new clients, following up known clients and supporting referral processes.

Equipment

  • A Well-Equipped home visit bag
  • Community Map and or GhanaPost Global Positions System (GPS)
  • Manual/electronic area register/ records of the client
  • Means of Transportation

Preparation

  • Read the community map or GPS and identify the location of the camp.
  • Carry a well-equipped home visit bag and arrange transportation.

Procedure steps

  • Read map of the community and identify the location of the camp
  • Enter the camp and greet accordingly
  • Identify in-charge of the camp
  • Establish rapport and introduce self to camp in-charge
  • Explain purpose of your visit to the camp in-charge
  • Observe environment for cleanliness and safety of the camp
  • Enquire from the in-charge the presence of clients with mental illness
  • Ask about general health of client if any
  • Enquire about specific complaint that brought clients in to the camp
  • Find out other treatment alternatives available for clients whiles in the camp
  • Ask about data of identified clients if any and confirm data with client or client's family if possible
  • Ask about diet and eating pattern of clients from camp in charge or attendants
  • Enquire about recreational activities available for clients
  • Find out about infections prevention measures in the camp
  • Thoroughly assess clients and prioritized their health needs
  • Draw a care for their health needs
  • Assist in providing any other care if required
  • Encourage the camp in-charge to always refer clients whose conditions need further treatment or regular medical checks to mental units or health facility
  • Refer problems beyond scope to the nearest unit or health facility
  • Inform camp-in charge and clients about your next visit
  • Leave your contact with camp-in charge and encourage him to call in case of emergency
  • Document the care and findings in report book
  • Express appreciation and depart

Precautions

  • Inspect the licence of the institution and observe the environment for cleanliness and safety.
  • Establish rapport with the camp in-charge and explain the purpose of the visit.
  • Confirm data of identified clients with the client or the client's family if possible.
  • Refer problems beyond scope to the nearest unit or health facility.

Aftercare

  • Inform the camp in-charge and clients about the next visit.
  • Leave contact details with the camp in-charge and encourage calls in case of emergency.

Nursing considerations

  • Enquire about diet and eating patterns, recreational activities and infection prevention measures in the camp.
  • Thoroughly assess clients and prioritise their health needs; draw up a care plan for their needs.

Patient education

  • Educate clients and caregivers on the WHO Quality Rights of persons living with mental illness.
  • Educate and promote best practices in the camp, including infection prevention measures.
  • Encourage the camp in-charge to refer clients whose conditions need further treatment or regular medical checks to mental health units.

Documentation

  • Document the care and findings in the report book.

References and further reading

Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.

Open Component Task app