As a psych nurse, what non-psych nursing skills do you wish you were stronger in?

[Thunderwolf]

This is a new thread for psych nurses to ask for support in non-psychiatric skills they need brushed up on or have questions about "as related to their current practice" as a psychiatric nurse.

What do you need more of as a psychiatric nurse?

Hope to see some responses.

[TrudyRN]

I think Psych nurses should be able to do simple things like remember that not all patients who scratch or pick their wounds are doing it for attention. Maybe their skin/wound itches, burns, hurts.

Do good dressings, remember that you are treating a whole person, not just someone with a mental illness. Do neurocirc checks in those with casts or other restrictive dressings when there could be n-c compromise. Actually evaluate someone with a physical c/o. Check breath or bowel sounds. Eval VS.

I think just a good Med-Surg Review that would cover essentials of each body system and common diseases of each system should be required q 1-2 years for Psych nurses, just as M-S nurses should be repeatedly refreshed about Psych issues.

[nanasuzy]

At my new facility we draw our own labs. I would like to have retraining on drawing labs, which tubes to use, etc.

[PsychNurseWannaBe, BSN, RN]

I'm amazed on how much I forgot my lab values and their implications. I know that sounds way bad...don't worry, I am reviewing them :)

For example, we were given a quiz that was more geared towards med/surg and it mentioned PO2, CO2, and a whole lot of other values and we had to say what was wrong. My brain screeched to a halt... and I kinda chuckled. It has been a year since we had that type of stuff and I was amazed on how much the phrase, you use it or lose it, really is true.

[the31woman]

I agree with Guitaguy2. I would like to know more of that. I trained in UK and fortunately my diploma included general nursing as well but not as much as I would have liked.

[showbizrn]

Venipuncture skills

ACLS (HELP!)

EKG Monitoring

Overview of Major Medical Illnesses with Nurisng Implications...

Uh-oh...

I ain't goin' back to Med-Surg!

NOOOOOOOOOOO!