Managing ADHD can be a challenge, especially at the beginning where it generally requires a multidisciplinary approach. Care is often divided between your GP, ADHD psychiatrist, psychologists, and mental health nurse. A specialist mental health nurse can play a crucial role in the ADHD assessment, diagnosis, and treatment process, offering valuable support and guidance to patients and their families.
For some, the confusion comes from understanding where their care is coming from and what the role of the mental health nurse is. So, to answer your questions, let’s take a look at how a specialist mental health nurse could help on your ADHD journey.
What is the Role of a Specialist Mental Health Nurse?
A specialist mental health nurse is a registered nurse who works in various healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, schools, etc. Their training and expertise lie within a specialised area, such as mental health, and more specifically ADHD, and they play a pivotal role in ADHD assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
A mental health nurse will work alongside other medical professionals such as psychiatrists and psychologists and in some instances your GP, to ensure that you receive the best care.
Responsibilities of a Mental Health Nurse in an ADHD Assessment and Diagnosis
The main responsibility of the mental health nurse within an ADHD setting is to perform the ADHD assessment. Generally, they will gather information about the individual's experiences, medical history, symptoms, and any comorbid conditions they may have. Specifically, an ADHD nurse will:
Work closely alongside psychiatrists, psychologists, and other medical professionals, to perform an ADHD assessment and deliver an accurate diagnosis.
Manage ADHD medication for patients, with the ability to prescribe and monitor medication, adjust dosages as needed, and educate patients on possible side effects.
Offer therapeutic interventions in the form of CBT (cognitive-behavioural therapy), psychoeducation, and other forms of therapy to help patients manage their symptoms effectively.
Offer support and advocacy to patients and their families as well as access to resources and services at school, work, or within the community, and help parents and caregivers understand ADHD.
Take a more holistic approach, considering an individual's physical, emotional, and social well-being, and collaborating with psychiatrists and psychologists, to provide comprehensive care.
Monitor an individual's progress, and adjust treatment plans, ensuring the most effective interventions are in place.
Provide immediate support and intervention to ensure safety and well-being, in the event of an ADHD crisis.
What is the Difference Between a Specialists Mental Health Nurse, a psychiatrist, and a psychologist for ADHD?
For some, it can be difficult to understand whom your care will come from, as this can be different within ADHD clinics and the NHS. As mentioned above, a specialist ADHD/ mental health nurse is a qualified nurse with additional accreditation in assessing ADHD, and dependent on their qualifications, they may also be able to prescribe ADHD medication.
A psychiatrist is a medically trained doctor who specialises in the field of psychiatry, as well as undergoing specialised education and training in diagnosing and treating mental health disorders, including ADHD. Due to being medically trained, they can prescribe medicine as well as practice physical and mental examinations, alongside historical symptoms, to properly assess and diagnose ADHD.
A psychologist will focus more on gaining an understanding of your background, symptoms history, individual life events, and emotional difficulties, to arrive at an understanding of what is causing a person's ADHD. They are less concerned with a diagnosis and use more evidence-based psychological approaches to formulate a treatment plan, such as the use of talking therapy and CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy). If medication is needed, a psychologist is unable to prescribe it, this is where collaboration between a psychologist and another medical professional will be needed.
Managing ADHD with the Help of a Mental Health Nurse
When it comes to managing your ADHD, unique approaches are required and that is because we are all unique ourselves, therefore ADHD will present differently in each individual. To ensure the best possible care, an ADHD clinic will utilise the help of multiple medical professionals, to enable them to meet these individual needs as best they can.
The role of the ADHD nurse is varied and extremely useful in the ADHD process. Ways that an ADHD nurse helps to manage ADHD in an individual are:
Provide Individualised Care
Specialist mental health nurses work closely with individuals with ADHD to create personalised care plans tailored to their specific needs and goals. This individualised approach ensures that the treatment is effective and addresses the unique challenges associated with ADHD.
By Monitoring Progress
Continuous monitoring of the progress of individuals with ADHD enables ADHD nurses to assess the effectiveness of medications, and therapeutic interventions and make adjustments as necessary to achieve the best possible results for the individual.
Providing Education and Empowerment
Education is a key component of managing ADHD. Specialist Mental Health Nurses empower individuals and their families by providing them with information and strategies to cope with ADHD-related difficulties. This knowledge equips them to make informed decisions about their treatment and daily life.
Offering Supportive Counselling
Counselling is an essential aspect of ADHD management. Specialist Mental Health Nurses offer a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to discuss their challenges, emotions, and concerns. This therapeutic relationship can be instrumental in helping individuals develop coping skills and resilience.
How a Specialist Nurse Practitioner Will Work with You at Beyond ADHD Clinic
We offer a simple, step-by-step process and employ three fundamental testing tools to acquire the most accurate diagnosis. Our specialist ADHD nurse practitioner will meet with you to complete the DIVA 5 interview after we have gathered information from you and completed the QbCheck and The Browns Executive Function and Attention Scale tests.
You will then meet with one of our dedicated psychiatrists to complete a comprehensive ADHD assessment of your difficulties. Our ADHD nurse will then meet with you to answer any questions you may have and help you to fully understand your diagnosis. The ADHD nurse will offer you a space to reflect and explain medication in detail, as well as what you can expect if you sign up for our medication care plan.
If you do decide to sign up for our medication care plan, our specialist ADHD nurse practitioner will provide ongoing reviews and support monthly, with calls in between if needed.
Getting the Right Help Tailored to You from a Private ADHD Clinic in Manchester
Beyond is a private ADHD clinic in Manchester, run by a group of specialist psychiatrists and practitioners, committed to providing a robust ADHD assessment and evidence-based interventions, to meet the needs of each individual. We believe that when it comes to ADHD, there is no one-size-fits-all approach, that’s why we take a comprehensive and personalised approach to your ADHD assessment.
If you would like to speak to one of our expert team for a confidential chat, get in touch today.
