Nursing Component Task
Nursing procedures & clinical learning

Community Mental Health Nursing (RCMN)

FACILITATING A RECREATIONAL THERAPY IN THE COMMUNITY

This is a type of psychological therapy where the RCPN uses leisure activities to assist clients improve on their skills, abilities, overall health and emotional well-being. The nurse works with the clients to set goals and develop plans based on client's interests and the resources available in the community.

Purpose

  • Improve and maintain physical, cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual functioning in order to facilitate full participation in life
  • Help rebuild skills, improve mood, social connections and strengthen quality of life
  • Improve coping mechanisms

Indications

  • Facilitating a recreational therapy session in the community.
  • Improving and maintaining physical, cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual functioning.
  • Helping rebuild skills, improve mood, social connections and strengthen quality of life.

Equipment

  • NB: Select requirement based on the activity to be performed

Preparation

  • Identify the specific interests and capabilities of the client.
  • Identify the venue and time for the therapy with the client.
  • Gather all necessary tools or equipment or play articles for the therapy.

Procedure steps

  • Establish rapport and prepare the client psychologically for the therapy
  • Explain the significance of recreational therapy
  • Identify specific interests and capabilities of the client
  • Identify venue and time for therapy with client
  • Prepare venue to suit type of recreational activity
  • Ensure client has eaten, taken medication and groomed for the therapy
  • Gather all necessary tools or equipment/play articles for the therapy
  • Facilitate the therapy in a pleasant surrounding
  • Organize the therapy in the client's home or nearby community recreational centre
  • Modify therapy according to the age and abilities of client
  • Assume a comfortable position closer to client during performance of the therapy
  • Initiate, demonstrate or explain the rules of the game to the client
  • Observe client's attention span, performance rate and interactions
  • Allow client to win most of the games during the therapy
  • Ask client's opinion about the game
  • Congratulate and direct client to next activity
  • Document client's performance, attitude and any other findings in the report book

Precautions

  • Establish rapport and prepare the client psychologically for the therapy.
  • Modify the therapy according to the age and abilities of the client.
  • Ensure the client has eaten, taken medication and is groomed for the therapy.
  • Observe the client's attention span, performance rate and interactions.

Aftercare

  • Congratulate and direct the client to the next activity.
  • Document the client's performance, attitude and any other findings in the report book.

Nursing considerations

  • Prepare the venue to suit the type of recreational activity and facilitate the therapy in a pleasant surrounding.
  • Assume a comfortable position closer to the client during performance of the therapy.
  • Organize the therapy in the client's home or nearby community recreational centre.

Patient education

  • Explain the significance of recreational therapy and initiate, demonstrate or explain the rules of the game.
  • Ask the client's opinion about the game and allow the client to win most of the games during the therapy.

Documentation

  • Document the client's performance, attitude and any other 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