[mrs.captain.kangaroo]

Thanks for all the replies. My therapist is a PhD in psych so I would bet he doesn't have the same experience a medical person such as an RN or LPN would have. I'll ask him though.

[inthesky]

not nearly as much time as i desire. Sometimes we have a LPN passing meds, but i insist that i do it myself because that is the most patient contact I get. While I pass them, I explain the meds and talk to the patient about their day and feelings. Now things are changing on the unit, and they want us to take admits in the middle of med pass *cries*. meaning much less contact and i have to rush.. im NOT happy about this.

[Hokie]

I'm a RN on a dual-diagnosis unit and previously worked on the chronic psychiatric unit. On both units, I have had the time to sit and talk with the patients which is the reason to work psych. As has been noted earlier, there are CNAs which work with the team who can provide much needed insight as they spend the majority of their time with the patients.