I don't want to clean poop

[missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN]

Long story short, my sister has decided that she wants to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. She has a master's in psych, and believes this will be an easy thing to achieve, but she just simply doesn't want to clean poop.

I do assist with peri care, sometimes with a tech, and sometimes because the tech is with another patient. It's not the biggest part of my job and it is not the worst part of my job. It gives me a chance to assess skin issues, to change any bandages that may be on the coccyx, and to let the patient know that I'm there no matter what reason they need me.

I tried to explain this to her, and she just doesn't 'get it'. I get this idea that becoming an NP is practically the same as a MD to her, and that worries me. She'll learn, I suppose. I just hope that she will understand that assisting a patient at a time when they can't even go to the bathroom by themselves is not a bad thing. It's not horrible to help someone. It's what we do.

I'm just bothered by it. Thoughts...comments? Ways to make her understand? all appreciated.

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

Um. Tell her about nursing school. You know where you rotate on floors generally with a lot of icky stuff to do.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

She's going to have to get through nursing school, and will benefit from working as a psych nurse, before she becomes a psych nurse practitioner. There is definitely poop in nursing school, and can be more than you'd dream on a psych floor.

I don't think many like to clean poop. Still, it needs to get cleaned and nurse clean it...

[missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN]

I tried to do the above. She told me that's "Not the way it works."

I was also told that she could work 9-5 as a Psychiatric NP. I rolled my eyes. I love when family gets together. It's heart warming.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

She's going to have a happy time in her future if she doesn't accept what the reality really will be. She's very mis-informed!

Some psych NPs work 9-5, but many work a whole lot of on-call time too. That time can be any time there's a need.

Does she plan to skip nursing school??

[missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN]

She understands that she'll have to get her nursing degree and pass the NCLEX. Honestly, this will not be a problem for her. She is extremely bright.

[Nurse Leigh]

I tried to do the above. She told me that's "Not the way it works."

Well, yeah. I don't see the problem here - why *wouldn't* someone who just decided to go into nursing know more than an ACTUAL nurse?

Guess she'll have to learn the hard way...and you'll be thinking "I told you so."

Hang in there, OP.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

I tried to do the above. She told me that's "Not the way it works."

I was also told that she could work 9-5 as a Psychiatric NP. I rolled my eyes. I love when family gets together. It's heart warming.

To quote Adam Savage from Mythbusters: "I reject your reality and substitute my own"

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

If your sister has a master's in psych, why not just get her doctorate? Because now she will have to take more to get an RN, then get an NP....in that time, she could just go up the ladder of where she is now.

And depending on what psych level we are talking about.....there can be poop thrown as opposed to cleaning someone up...

I am having a hard time following your thread, OP. With a Master's can't she get certified or LICSW or some other thing in her field? To get her NP at this point would be a whole new education path.

So, as a mother, I will leave you with this...You are coming across as envious, which may or may not be the intent. Your sister may be a lot of things, but she is not you. And as grown ups we all have to mind our own business, go on with our own stuff, and make our own way. Focus on you, and what you want, and what you need to make yourself happy and fulfilled. I have one kid who is straight up brilliant. Literally blows me away with the knowledge depth. I have one that is creative and thinks at an alternate level--creative and outgoing and correct. Then I have one who want to do their own thing, regardless of thinking/intellect. Finally, one who is the kindest person that I know, and that in itself makes them amazing. So go with your own story. Stop writing chapters in your sister's book and write your own.

Best wishes

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

Good point Jadelpn!

It doesn't seem as if she's thought-through all her options...

[missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN]

If your sister has a master's in psych, why not just get her doctorate? Because now she will have to take more to get an RN, then get an NP....in that time, she could just go up the ladder of where she is now.

And depending on what psych level we are talking about.....there can be poop thrown as opposed to cleaning someone up...

I am having a hard time following your thread, OP. With a Master's can't she get certified or LICSW or some other thing in her field? To get her NP at this point would be a whole new education path.

She's a psychologist. She'd have to go through a lot more schooling to be able to write scripts as a psychiatrist. That's why she's considering this path with only the thought of stool standing in her way. Thanks for the insight though.

[Neural]

Psych units are where you get the "Brown Rockets" thrown at you.