Background:

The definition of mental illness is characterized by a lack of management regarding mood, thoughts or behavior. It is difficult for the person to cope with everyday duties as well as relationships with other people.

The study revealed that the society should take action to prevent social isolation for those with mental illness. The central concepts of care theory is love, learning and well-being, where nurses' conditions and actions create results in the patient.

Aim:

Describe skills and prerequisites nurses need at the meeting of patients with mental illness. A further aim was to examine the ethical considerations included studies made use of.

Method:

A descriptive literature study

Main result:

Nurses feel they do not have skills regarding mental illness. When nurses care for patients with mental illness are often formed stigmatizations regarding these patient groups and care will suffer. That creates difficulties in dealing with situations where patients' mental health problems are preventing optimal care efforts. The nurses felt that the general nursing care was better if the right knowledge and training in mental health raised further.

Conclusion:

Nurses need increased knowledge and training regarding mental illness in order to have skills and opportunities.