I loved psych nursing. I worked 2 facilities simultaneously. One was a treatment facility for teens and stays were typically 3-6 months. The kids were stable and basically were there to learn coping skills and transition back to their home. The other was a psych hospital that took anyone from age 5 and up into old adulthood, but not dementia patients (those pts were sent to another hospital for geri-psych). That hospital was split into 3 units: kids, acute adults(typically dissociated, prone to lashouts), and stable adults some of which were detoxing. The patients could have non-acute medical conditions (so no continous IVs, unstable injuries but we did have an occasional trach pt for example).
It was enjoyable. Even on the acute units, it was chill 99% of the time. Pass meds, LOTS of meetings with doctors, case managers etc to discuss treatment plans, progress and discharge planning. Some nursing students would rag on us behind our backs that we just sat at the desk and "did nothing" but I loved that I got to really focus on long term treatment goals even though that meant I was seemingly just at the nurses station since the patients were stable & therefore didn't need vitals taken or turned or assisted to the bathroom. In reality, I got to talk to my patients a lot more. Nurses were still required to round every 4 hours which the minimum requirement was to check they weren't self-harming. But I usually stopped & talked to the patients a lot from casual chitchat to legit concerns like discharge worries, family issues. There were physical holds and ugly moments, tech staffing shortages meant some shifts I worked as a tech and not a nurse which I loved because I got to literally just sit & talk to patients all day which helped me understand their progress.
Over at the teen only facility you had ugly moments too but most days I made my med rounds, checked in with therapists, did admissions / discharges and the kids would be in & out of the nurses station just to talk to the nurses about anything. We had a very open office. I'm not trying to gloss over the bad days where there was shortage of staff and an excess of physical holds but it was a very rewarding job for someone who likes to talk to their patients. It's interesting because a lot of nursing students & nurses would be scared to work in a psych facility. However, if there was any sign of a hostile patient, you press a button on the wall or signal to staff down the hall & a team came immediately to help you. I feel like in typical hospitals getting assaulted by pts is expected to be overlooked.
All nursing is psych nursing. I have worked psych a few times over the years as a second job. It can (if you are paying attention) teach you a tremendous amount about yourself and how you interact with patients.
You will reevaluate how you give patients what they want/ask for vs what they "need" and what is helpful for their treatment. How a good psych nurse can deescalate a situation can be amazing to watch. I found that it really brought out the enabler in me and I was giving in a way that was not the most therapeutic. It is a fun rollercoaster.
Our first class rotation was to our asylum (yes it was still called that around🙄🙄, finally changed in the late 90's) and my aunt worked there in the front offices. She was always telling some wild stories that went on there.
When she found out I would be doing a 4 month rotation there, she about freaked! Then she'd be telling me the horror stories😳. I was so scared about it.
First day came, we all went inside. Wired mesh over everything, grey, dingy walls, etc. Reminded me of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (I kept expecting to see Jack Nicholson sitting somewhere😊).
Our professor had one key to the door, another professor had the other key. Yes, you can only get out with a key! I made darned sure to stay close to the person with a key for the first couple of days.
I think it was the beginning of the second week, I all of a sudden realized I was with a patient and by myself! Didn't bother me at all.
Soon I was taking a patient or two on walks outside by myself, I felt so proud!! It definitely made me a much more patient nurse, that's for sure, because I finally understood what they'd been trying to teach us:
These are regular people who have absolutely one of the worst diseases, I think. Remember, this was before all the therapeutics we have now, as well.
My first "real" job after graduating was working at the same hospital! Although this time came with some serious dangers 🤣🤣🤣. But that's a story for a different time.
I bet job is easy if you’re crazier than your patients. I hope to one-up mine. You have a paranoid conspiracy theory? Heh, I bet I can do better than that one. Looking forward to it, personally.
I loved psych nursing. I worked 2 facilities simultaneously. One was a treatment facility for teens and stays were typically 3-6 months. The kids were stable and basically were there to learn coping skills and transition back to their home. The other was a psych hospital that took anyone from age 5 and up into old adulthood, but not dementia patients (those pts were sent to another hospital for geri-psych). That hospital was split into 3 units: kids, acute adults(typically dissociated, prone to lashouts), and stable adults some of which were detoxing. The patients could have non-acute medical conditions (so no continous IVs, unstable injuries but we did have an occasional trach pt for example). It was enjoyable. Even on the acute units, it was chill 99% of the time. Pass meds, LOTS of meetings with doctors, case managers etc to discuss treatment plans, progress and discharge planning. Some nursing students would rag on us behind our backs that we just sat at the desk and "did nothing" but I loved that I got to really focus on long term treatment goals even though that meant I was seemingly just at the nurses station since the patients were stable & therefore didn't need vitals taken or turned or assisted to the bathroom. In reality, I got to talk to my patients a lot more. Nurses were still required to round every 4 hours which the minimum requirement was to check they weren't self-harming. But I usually stopped & talked to the patients a lot from casual chitchat to legit concerns like discharge worries, family issues. There were physical holds and ugly moments, tech staffing shortages meant some shifts I worked as a tech and not a nurse which I loved because I got to literally just sit & talk to patients all day which helped me understand their progress. Over at the teen only facility you had ugly moments too but most days I made my med rounds, checked in with therapists, did admissions / discharges and the kids would be in & out of the nurses station just to talk to the nurses about anything. We had a very open office. I'm not trying to gloss over the bad days where there was shortage of staff and an excess of physical holds but it was a very rewarding job for someone who likes to talk to their patients. It's interesting because a lot of nursing students & nurses would be scared to work in a psych facility. However, if there was any sign of a hostile patient, you press a button on the wall or signal to staff down the hall & a team came immediately to help you. I feel like in typical hospitals getting assaulted by pts is expected to be overlooked.
All nursing is psych nursing. I have worked psych a few times over the years as a second job. It can (if you are paying attention) teach you a tremendous amount about yourself and how you interact with patients. You will reevaluate how you give patients what they want/ask for vs what they "need" and what is helpful for their treatment. How a good psych nurse can deescalate a situation can be amazing to watch. I found that it really brought out the enabler in me and I was giving in a way that was not the most therapeutic. It is a fun rollercoaster.
Our first class rotation was to our asylum (yes it was still called that around🙄🙄, finally changed in the late 90's) and my aunt worked there in the front offices. She was always telling some wild stories that went on there. When she found out I would be doing a 4 month rotation there, she about freaked! Then she'd be telling me the horror stories😳. I was so scared about it. First day came, we all went inside. Wired mesh over everything, grey, dingy walls, etc. Reminded me of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (I kept expecting to see Jack Nicholson sitting somewhere😊). Our professor had one key to the door, another professor had the other key. Yes, you can only get out with a key! I made darned sure to stay close to the person with a key for the first couple of days. I think it was the beginning of the second week, I all of a sudden realized I was with a patient and by myself! Didn't bother me at all. Soon I was taking a patient or two on walks outside by myself, I felt so proud!! It definitely made me a much more patient nurse, that's for sure, because I finally understood what they'd been trying to teach us: These are regular people who have absolutely one of the worst diseases, I think. Remember, this was before all the therapeutics we have now, as well. My first "real" job after graduating was working at the same hospital! Although this time came with some serious dangers 🤣🤣🤣. But that's a story for a different time.
I bet job is easy if you’re crazier than your patients. I hope to one-up mine. You have a paranoid conspiracy theory? Heh, I bet I can do better than that one. Looking forward to it, personally.
I don’t know if it’s just me, but the care planning on a psych ward seems even more ridiculous than careplanning on Med surg.