Mental Health Advocacy

Using therapeutic communication to support patients in achieving their mental health goals

Welcome to Nurse Ascent, a twice-weekly newsletter created by nurses, for nurses. This week, a nurse shares how her nursing interventions include a lot more chatting with patients on the behavioral health unit. We also share new job opportunities, and discuss the recent chaos erupting in the CDC, continued changes in COVID vaccine eligibility, and the AHA's updates to heart health recommendations.

But first, a shout out to all our mental health workers out there...

Nurse Spotlight: Liana Cooley RN, BSN

What I do for work

I’m a psychiatric RN working on a senior behavioral unit. While most patients are older adults with acute psychiatric conditions, my unit is unique because we also treat psych patients who are simultaneously seeking medical care. Most of the patient population I treat have past or current substance use disorder or are experiencing complications from mixing substances with medications that may exacerbate underlying psychiatric history.

How I got here

I’ve wanted to be a nurse since I was a kid because I always liked to help people. My dad wanted to be a nurse but was never able to finish school and pursue his dream, so it kind of transferred to me in a way. I became a CNA in high school and then worked as a home health aid through college to get a degree in Kinesiology while balancing being a mom with young kids. I eventually retook some courses that led me into an accelerated BSN program. After school, I joined a new graduate residency as a psych nurse and have been here ever since.

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More on Liana Cooley

A day in my life

For me, working in a psych unit is different than other hospital floors because patients must be more medically stable to come to us. A lot of my job is providing therapeutic communication including talking about the patient’s plan or goals for the day, how they’re feeling, or how the medications might be affecting them. I encourage my patients to attend group circles and therapy and find other ways to help them make actions steps towards achieving their goals for improving their mental health.

My self-care routine

For self care, I definitely feel like I need to move my body every day to help take care of my own mental health. I like to take gym class with other women or go for a walk with the baby near my home. I also think having fun activities to look forward to helps keep me in a positive perspective. My family and I love to go see live music, go to the zoo, or host dinner parties with friends and stay connected to our community.

Headlines in Healthcare

CDC Chaos

The CDC had an especially chaotic week after the former director of the CDC was fired, triggering 4 more top officials to resign in protest. The new acting director has no medical training and is better known for spreading multiple conspiracy theories. Health experts warn that "this is a national security risk to Americans. Without steady-headed, evidence-informed leadership, everything from outbreaks to data to chronic diseases to injury is in jeopardy.”

Vaccine Barriers

RFK Jr. announced new regulations that will limit who is eligible for COVID vaccines. These changes come at a moment where the stratus variant is surging in the US. Some of the new changes include needing to first consult with your provider in order to show if the patient has at least one underlying health issues that would put them at high risk for severe outcomes from the virus, rather than directly booking with the pharmacy.

Blood Pressure News

The American Heart Association has updated some guidelines on blood pressure, reaffirming earlier recommendations while adding some key changes. The new guidelines recommend earlier treatment for high blood pressure with lifestyle changes and medication for people with readings classified as "Stage 1 hypertension" (130-139 mm Hg), versus previously recommending this beginning at "Stage 2" (above 140 mm Hg). In another shift, the guidelines now recommend minimal — ideally zero — alcohol consumption, stating that "there is no safe level of alcohol exposure."

An image of author Katie Scoggins is pictured.

Meet the author:
Katie Scoggins
(RN, BSN & Health Writer)

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