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Role of Nurses in Psychological Assessment!
Assessment of psychological conditions of patients is important for intervention. It is very important for the nurses to know what a psychological test is, how tests are constructed and used, what the uses of these tests are, and how to interpret the results of tests, etc.
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Then only she will be able to choose an appropriate test to suit particular purpose and particular person.
When a report of psychological testing is presented to a nurse she must be in a position to understand and interpret these results. For example, when an ‘X-ray’ along with report is presented to a nurse she can definitely understand where the fracture is, what type of fracture, and what precautions must be taken etc.
In the same way when a report of intelligence test is presented she should be in a position to know the level of mental retardation in a mentally challenged child. So also a report about a neurotic case is presented she should be in a position to understand the nature of the disease in that particular patient. For example, Eysenck’s personality inventory (EPI) is administered to know the level of Neuroticism, Extraversion and Introversion. Similarly MMPI is used to know Psychoticism and other mental problems.
Interests and aptitude tests are very useful in rehabilitation process of a patient. She can decide suitable recreational and occupational training for that patient.
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The nurses who go for higher studies and research in psychology definitely need this knowledge. In this way nurses have a major role to play in psychological assessment.