Mental health nursing and the law
This chapter has provided an outline of the main legislation you are likely to encounter in the practice setting and will need to consider. Student mental health nurses need to be aware of the fundamentals of mental health legislation and their accountability in order to be able to practice competently and effectively. While it is crucially important to practice in accordance with the law, increasingly the legislation itself has emphasized that the nurse’s role in mental health nursing is more than simply enacting the law. Instead, mental health nurses have a specific role in working to empower and advocate for the person and always promote their best interests and rights. At times these competing considerations may appear to be conflicting. Yet it is important to reflect on these issues if we are to provide appropriate help for the individuals with whom we work.