RGU graduate intent on reducing the stigma around mental health

NHS Grampian and Robert Gordon University (RGU) are celebrating International Nurse’s Day and Mental Health Awareness Week by encouraging more people to consider a career in mental health nursing.

Megan Ord, 23, from Aberdeen, is a newly qualified mental health nurse. She followed a funded degree link route through college with NESCol before studying the second and third year of her degree at RGU in its School of Nursing, Midwifery & Paramedic Practice.

“No two days are the same. You get to meet interesting people from all walks of life and make a real difference in their lives. I chose mental health because you get to support people who are often misunderstood and show them that people do care,” she says.

Megan worked as a health care support worker for a year before beginning her studies and has enjoyed continuing in this role part-time as well as taking part in a variety of student placements.

She explains: “It’s a very diverse field of nursing and there's lots of dynamics. Being adaptable to every individual’s needs means thinking about how you communicate and being creative coming up with unique treatment plans. It involves a lot of problem solving and working with families and carers – there is so much more to mental health nursing than what you see on the surface.

“We have an opportunity to develop strong therapeutic relationships as we spend days, weeks and sometimes months with patients. Seeing the difference from admission to discharge, seeing improvements in people and being able to support patients rehabilitate into the community makes it all worthwhile.”

Asked what advice she’d give to others considering a career in mental health nursing, the nursing - mental health graduate says you have to be prepared to be patient, empathetic, understanding and non-judgemental.

“Try to gain experience in areas you think you may be interested in and speak to others who work in areas you are interested in,” she adds. Megan joins lots of colleagues who have decided to pursue a career in nursing after gaining work experience in another healthcare role.

In terms of her future career path, Megan isn’t sure how she’d like to progress yet but is reassured there are plenty of opportunities to be promoted.

“There are lots of options I have looked into and I am definitely keen to progress in my career. The most important thing is I'd like to help reduce the stigma around mental health and help those who are often overlooked by society. I have always been passionate about caring for others and making a difference in people’s lives.”

International Nurse’s Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. The theme for the 2023 resource is 'Our Nurses. Our Future'. It’s a global campaign which sets out what the industry wants for nursing in the future in order to address the global health challenges and improve global health for all.

This year's theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is anxiety to increase people's awareness and understanding of how feeling anxious can affect somebody's body, mental health and everyday life. Visit the Mental Health Foundation for more on the week and remind yourself of RGU's counselling and wellbeing services here.

Image shows Megan Ord. This is a blog originally supplied and put together by NHS Grampian.