Role of advanced practitioners in assessing the physical health of mental health service users

Mental health and physical health are closely linked, and people diagnosed with mental health conditions need to be offered regular physical health assessments. Cardiovascular health is an important consideration when prescribing antidepressants, as side effects of these medicines can include serious cardiovascular events. Therefore, mental health nurses working at an advanced level of practice need to be able to assess service users' physical health as well as their mental health. Conducting a physical health assessment and checking cardiac health is crucial to guide decision-making when prescribing antidepressants. This article uses a case study to discuss the role of advanced practitioners in assessing the physical health of mental health service users, underlining the importance of physical health competence in advanced level mental health nursing practice.