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Educating First Responders in the Community

By APNA Bloggers posted 04-12-2017 11:22 AM

  

How one psychiatric-mental health nurse is transforming the definition of health to one that recognizes mental health as foundational for all health in her community.

Jeannine Loucks “Law enforcement officers are frequently first responders to field encounters with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. They want more education on how to effectively communicate and interact with these individuals affected by mental illness,” says Jeannine Loucks, MSN, RN-BC PMH. In 2010, Loucks’ local police department in Orange, California asked her to develop a training for their officers to help them interact with persons experiencing a psychiatric-mental health crisis.

 Loucks extensively researched law enforcement policies and procedures and developed a classroom curriculum for the officers. “Nurse-led educational programs for officers enhance their understanding, compassion, knowledge and competency regarding mental illness and its effect on individuals and the community as a whole,” she says. Her curriculum was so successful that she translated the curriculum into a video series for which she received the 2016 APNA Award for Excellence in Media. With these videos now in use by police departments as far away as New York, Loucks continues to expand the education. “I am completing my 7th video currently,” she says. “We are working on one for PTSD which encompasses strategies for our veterans as well as a segment on ensuring officers protect and take care of their own personal wellbeing to avoid compassion fatigue.”

We asked Loucks how this work helps to highlight mental health as foundational to all health in her community: “Educating officers on early identification of psychiatric symptoms and appropriate resources can provide the beginning steps for the person to achieve ‘whole health’ while reducing the stigma often experienced by these individuals,” she explains. “When everyone is treated with dignity and respect and provided with the appropriate care this demonstrates how communities work together to achieve healthy communities for all.”

 

Do you know a nurse whose work is changing lives, changing practice, or changing communities? Nominate them for an APNA Annual Award and their story, like Jeannine’s, could be highlighted. Learn more at www.apna.org/AnnualAwards. Nominations Deadline: April 18, 2017.

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