L’infirmier psychiatrique accompagne des personnes de tout âge souffrant de troubles psychologiques ou psychiatriques, de dépendances ou de handicaps psychiques et mentaux.

Son travail consiste majoritairement dans la prise en soins relationnelle de la personne, de son entourage ou d’un groupe de personnes⁴. Afin de pouvoir construire cette relation de soins avec les personnes concernés, l’infirmier psychiatrique doit faire un travail sur soi et avoir une bonne gestion de ses propres affects.

At the hospital in the psychiatric wards, he accompanies with the interdisciplinary team people with acute mental disorders. Through his constant presence and his competence in clinical observation, he collaborates in the establishment of the diagnosis by the doctor, as well as in the application of medical and psychiatric treatment. In crisis situations and outside of any alternatives within his reach, he may have to resort to restraint or isolation of patients, according to the recommendations in force.

In addition, the psychiatric nurse acts as a relay between the medical profession, the patient and his family. In particular, it informs them about the care provided, the scheduled examinations and the treatments instituted, while checking whether the information has been understood.⁵.

In the field of psychiatric rehabilitation, it supports people with mental disorders to regain their own autonomy and their place in the community. Thus, the psychiatric nurse ensures to restore the physical and psychological integrity of the individual, to discover and understand his difficulties and to provide him with the means to solve them.⁶.

The psychiatric nurse not only accompanies the person with a mental disorder to accept his pathology and treatment, but also supports his relatives in understanding the disease, its implications and its daily management.⁷.

In the field of mental health promotion, it contributes to mental health education⁸.