Nursing consultation: a clinical specialty.

In summary, the Mental Health Nurse Consultant is committed to the belief that nursing staff are competent to implement appropriate mental health care. Because of this the consultant utilizes both resource and process consultation to assist staff in determining care plans and to support a realistic method for delivery. The Mental Health Nurse Consultant interviews clients in order to assess dynamics of behavior and uses this information for care plan development. The direct interview also enables the consultant to investigate client perceptions of Psychiatric Mental Health Intervention and support the utilization of direct involvement by a member of the Consultation and Liaison Team. The Mental Health Nurse Consultant acts as a facilitator for ongoing utilization of existing resources through resource and process consultation to members of the Department of Nursing. Thus, consultation as a clinical specialty offers an additional opportunity for nurses to utilize individual skills and refocus the tasks of nursing within the general hospital.