When it comes to mental illness, many people are scared of people with mental problems. However, nurse Nguyen Van Tinh, a medical staff of the Women's Acute Department of the Da Nang Mental Hospital, is always dedicated to taking care of the mentally ill, hoping that patients can soon return to normal life.

Nurse Nguyen Van Tinh (first left) talks with female patients. Photo: L.H

Every day, about 40-50 inpatients with mental illness are being taken care of and receiving medical treatment at the Women's Acute Department.

Most of the patients do what they want, not under the guidance of doctors and nurses. Therefore, in addition to instructing mental patients to take medication as prescribed, doctors and nurses must provide psychological support to the patients.

Nurse Tinh said despite being aggressive when having an attack, mental patients still have silences that make the doctors and nurses all compassionate. At that time, doctors and nurses immediately become parents, relatives and friends for patients to express their feelings.

For more than 37 years of working in healthcare sector, nurse Nguyen Van Tinh always understands and sympathises with the plight of each mental patient and dedicates his whole heart to care for them.

Graduating from a medical school in 1985, Mr. Tinh applied to work at the Department of Women's Acute. His patients are women of many ages, including a woman with postpartum depression, and a middle-aged woman with schizophrenia.

Mr. Tinh and his colleagues at the department are tasked with providing comprehensive care, supporting medical treatment and becoming relatives and friends of mental patients.

In addition to expertise, psychological factors account for more than 50% of the treatment for psychiatric patients. Sometimes doctors and nurses have to transform into patients to talk, laugh, confide and coax them to eat and drink. Therefore, aside from improving her professional qualifications, nurse Tinh always actively cultivates communication skills to take better care of patients, with the hope that they will soon return to their families and re-integrate into the community.

According to Mr Tinh, it is very normal for doctors, nurses and medical staff to be attacked by mental patients.

Taking care of and treating normal patients is difficult, but taking care of and treating mental patients is even more difficult. But with his love, sharing and responsibility, Mr. Tinh forgets the danger that could come to him at any time to monitor, care for and treat mental patients in order to help them return to normal life soon.

According to Dr. Lam Tu Trung, Director of the Da Nang Mental Hospital, during 37 years of work, nurse Nguyen Van Tinh has always overcome difficulties to fulfill his assigned tasks. This is a job that requires nurses to have a heart, dedication and wholehearted love for patients. Tinh is an example of a tireless work ethic for patients, he added.

The municipal People’s Committee will organise a ceremony in February to honour 39 medical workers with ‘Shining White Coats’ awards in recognition of their outstanding efforts for Da Nang’s health care sector, as well as their great devotion to patients in 2021 and 2022. Mr. Nguyen Van Tinh is one of the 39 honourees.

Reporting by LE HUNG - Translating by M.DUNG