[Retrospect]

Hey guys i'm just wondering if you could give me some feedback on what happens in your day to day life as a psychiatric nurse?

Just asking because i am thinking of venturing into that field or maybe aged care but would be really interested on your perspectives.

Thankyou

[elkpark]

If you have a look around the Psychiatric Nursing forum, there are a number of existing threads that discuss your question. You can find quite a bit of info already posted here. Best wishes!

[ritaPHIL]

life as a psychiatric nurse is challenging.you deal with people's emotions and behavior. sometimes, it burns you out but when the time you know that you have done something good to a patient--- it lifts your spirit and stress are all gone

[RNKittyKat]

I take report, prepare meds for 13 patients, do a full narrative charting on 4-5 patients but chart on all 13 to some degree. I do everything from running IV fluids to dressing changes, take off orders and do whatever is necessary to keep the unit safe. It sounds pretty routine but it never is. It's chaotic, reflecting the chaotic minds of our patients. Sometimes the milieu is more peaceful than others. Those are good days.

[aloevera]

Yesterday....25 pts. talked to all new admits and assessed them first;
got treatment team meeting charts and pts. ready for Dr. and therapist for daily meeting; oops, 1 fall, assessed, paperwork; med nurse came to me, unable to arouse pt., assess, send to ER (more paperwork);
new admit, assessed (more paperwork); in between dealing with pts. c/o, issues and must talk and assess each individual for 5 page nurses note; visitation 2 daughters insist they want Mom out now; no can do, it is Sunday, sign AMA, wait 72 hrs. daughter not leaving, talked with her over an hour, finally got her gone; now Mom insisting to leave, call a code; another pt. jumps fence and we get him back to room, call dr. now on LOS; one pt. in W/C take to BR q. 2 hr. (where is my MHT???)
oh, had to send her to pick up pt. that went to H. earlier...new order;
another new admit (more paperwork), ........
7 PM---- night nurse " You didn't get all the charting done??"
I may have left 4-5 ......wonder why???? Oh, never ate a bite till on the way home....think I did drink coffee while talking with family visitors. the day flew by, that is for sure....

[aloevera]

oh, forgot to mention---in between all of the above had 3 blood draws, had 2 psychiatrists in to see their pts. (they see all q. day) so have to have them ready with chart to shuttle in to dr. office (tech helps with this) does this give you an idea of what a psych nurse does?? Hope so....I love it and would never go back to med-surg !!