Would you change to psychiatric/Mental health Nursing ?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am doing an assignment and trying to establish why some general nurses don't appear to wish to work in the the mental health area.

If you fall into this category could you let me know your reason.

Your response is appreciated in advance.MHN

Bad Bird- where do you live? Here on my planet a suicidal detainee does not go to ICU, Never not ever. He / she goes to jail where a mental health professional will come and assess their "saftey level ". If they are unable to make a contract for saftey they can spend the next 24 hours in a bare cell with only a unrippable gown and no blanket. In 24 hours times they are either cured or truly ill and in legitimate need of mental health services. They will then be placed in lock down and kept warm and safe. The powers that be in your community need to catch on to this old and tired ruse used by those whose cheif complaint is victimization by the criminal justice system. I'd hate "psych" pts too in your shoes!

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Specializes in ICU/CCU (PCCN); Heme/Onc/BMT.

For me, it hits too close to home. My mother was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic . . . back in 1969. I don't know if it's an accurate diagnosis because she's doing just fine at the respectable age of 68. . . still working full time, hold down her own finances, etc. (Although, she can be quite quirky sometimes!) However, she did experience some very significant mental/emotional decompositions ("break-downs"?) during my youth. It was a very painful period of my life. For this reason, I find that I just don't have the patience do work with this population. My problem. My loss.

However!!! The psychiatric population sure does get the short end of the stick by our society and by our country's healthcare system!!! This is SO SAD!!!! I used to work for a brief period of time for New York's Commission of Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled which investigated abuse and neglect cases. One thing I learned from this agency was just how underfunded healthcare is for the "mental hygiene" population.

My total respect for those special psychiatric nurses!

Ted

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Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes

I work in OB...Not generally a psyche floor.....

I dunno... lately it sure does feel like a psych floor. ;)

Heather

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Sort of on topic...

One of my alltime favorite psychiatrists -- who was just "Charlie" to all of us -- once explained psychosis to some students while I was present.

He said, "What the patient is experiencing is as real to them as YOUR HAND IS TO YOU."

It is helpful to keep this in mind when you are dealing with someone who is delusional or psychotic. It is also helpful to realize that so many of them have lost the ability for abstract thinking -- so you must be very concrete.

And I can also tell you that people who are depressed really really hate to hear "Just snap out of it."

People who are fighting obsessive compulsive disorder can't stand "Well, just stop doing it".

For people who are anxious, "Stop worrying" or panic attacks "It's all in your head".

It's like expecting someone who has just burned the bottoms of their feet to run around the block.

I think mental health takes a particular kind of patience on the part of the nurse. A calm spirit helps, too. Plus the firmness of the Rock of Gibralter.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

rofl heather...that was kind of the point of my post........you are right-o!

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