word of advice needed

Hallo All,

I've been asking myself this question for few months now: take or leave it?
I graduated June 08, had long summer, in october passed NCLEX and on Dec 8 started to work at HHC in NYC where I live.
I am working at behavioral unit, acute care, 3pm - 11:30pm, 5 days, commute to work about an hour. Around where I live there is at least 5 hospitals, none of them hiring.
I like psych nursing and would like to continue with it but the facility where I work just isn't the right place, lots of violence, none of the therapeutic approach, ativan IM, restrains - that is the way "curing" happens at my work place. Individual doesn't matter, doesn't count RN on schedule and we are good to work.
There is no jobs around, maybe I could get a position at home care agency but I never worked as such, don't know what to expect.
I found myself very depresed since I started working, I have small child and hours are just bad for family, I wouldn't mind it 3 x a week but 5 days it just doesnt work
If anyone can give me any hope, idea what to do, where to turn to make my working life livable.

I would appreciate any imput greatly,
aniutka



this is the copy of my previous post on psych nursing forum:
"I am working since december in Psych unit, Jun 2008 graduate.
what I find problematic is not the patients but often staff, not working together, using a lot of force, not being therapeutic at all, just medicating patients to be free of their annoying behaviors. One must develop very thick skin to work in such environment. I see very little understanding, willingness to help, lack of empathy and patience. Words heard most often are: limit setting, let me offer some medication to help you come down, staff splitting, I see a lot of violence, not enough therapy, lots of politics and no direction/education for staff. what matters is your RN license, you as a human being, nurse, don't matter, everyone is just looking to cover their a#$%^& and do as little as possible as patient call it " hiding in the buble" ( nursing stations are plexiglassed for safety)
I think it takes special type of a nurse to work in psych and very often people who work at psych units do it only for $ and lack of bodily fluids on the job.
Am I working in such bad place? Please tell me that not all psych units are like mine."