Assessing Psychiatric Conditions in Adult Inpatients

Overview

Adults with psychiatric conditions who are admitted as inpatients need to be assessed carefully to ensure they receive the best possible care. Although staff nurses don’t make the diagnosis, your assessment can help the psychiatrist and other treatment team members understand the patient’s struggle. This is particularly important as many inpatients are hospitalized involuntarily and timely intervention is essential. This article provides an overview of selected psychiatric conditions and their signs and symptoms.