Mental handicap nursing

Abstract

Mental handicap nursing involves considerable liaison with other professionals and a multidisciplinary approach in resolving many of the problems that arise. It has bridged the distances between the multidisciplinary team, often working as partners with clients. Sharing buildings, offices and sometimes a manager common to other professionals has put mental handicap nurses in a unique position. Some difficulties relating to accountability for the community mental handicap nurse have been identified (Carr et al., 1980) although on the whole this working together can and does work provided all professionals involved want it to work. The methods of supervision used in community mental handicap teams vary considerably, often depending very much on the structure of a particular team. Some methods may be less orthodox in that people from other disciplines are involved in the supervision of nurses.