boredom in psych nursing

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

Specializes in critical care.

Hello, amazing psych nurses!

I'm a psychology major starting an accelerated BSN program this summer. Eventually I would like to pursue PMHNP, but that is a ways down the road. My question is in regards to your duties as a psych RN. I've read the thread about what psych nurses do in their down time on the unit... things like reading books/journals/newpapers or surfing allnurses. I'm worried... do any of you find yourself bored in your psych job? :yawn: Or would you consider it continuously, or at least mostly, mentally engaging? I previously worked as a day care teacher, and although I loved the children and enjoyed planning lessons initially, I found myself becoming bored with the daily daycare routine. I'm hoping this is something that won't happen to me in my future career as a nurse. Opinions? :o

All jobs involve some element of boredom. Eventually even the most exciting of work will become "old," and you can cruise mostly on autopilot.

I had a job like that once. I could quickly do everything that was expected of me and more. One day my boss found me reading something on my computer, and in a bad mood he said, "Don't you have something you could be doing?" I'd already approached him about having too much free time. I was young and stupid and willing to volunteer back then. I said, "No, Joe. I've done everything I'm supposed to do, and I've done it well. What do you want me to do now, go down to maintenance, get some tools, and go rake the leaves?!" He was the kind of guy you had to be confrontational with. He left me alone and never said anything after that. I eventually quit because I was bored too often, lol.

I've learned the hard way since then that boredom isn't so bad. Take that for what you will.

When all your work is done there is always.........the patients! lol actually taking some time to spend with them. To talk, be a part of the mileu. In inpatient psych I found on days and eves I was pretty much busy all the time. On nights sometimes I was busy if an admit or two or some behavioral issues.....but more down time on nights. In psych ER it was dependent on the day. Most of the time we were busy the whole shift. But sometimes we would be slow. I remember one 12 hour night I worked and we had THREE patients come in between two nurses! lol So it depends.

When all your work is done there is always.........the patients! lol actually taking some time to spend with them. To talk, be a part of the mileu. In inpatient psych I found on days and eves I was pretty much busy all the time. On nights sometimes I was busy if an admit or two or some behavioral issues.....but more down time on nights. In psych ER it was dependent on the day. Most of the time we were busy the whole shift. But sometimes we would be slow. I remember one 12 hour night I worked and we had THREE patients come in between two nurses! lol So it depends.

I agree. I sometimes (well, okay, often) end up doing some reading or 'Net surfing when I'm working night shift, when all the work is done and everyone's asleep, but one can always stay busy during the days/evenings participating in the milieu and staying in touch with what's going on with the clients.

Psych nurses who spend time reading or being bored (on days/evening) are choosing to put themselves in that position. At the facility in which I currently work, there are some nurses who v. rarely leave the nurses' station -- but that's not because there's nothing for them to do outside the nurses' station -- it's because they choose not to engage with the clients (any more than absolutely necessary to avoid getting fired).

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
I'm worried... do any of you find yourself bored in your psych job?

Nah. Only boring people get bored.

If you are bored as a psych nurse, you need to rethink being in

the specialty. Disengaging from being alert to your unit and

what is going on is a setup for trouble. Because patients are on a psych

unit does not mean they are not observing your work pattern.

My advise is to stay alert and never let your guard down.

Not good for your license if a patient makes an attempt on his

life and you are documented at being online shopping the HSN at the

time of his/her attempt.

Food for thought...

Specializes in Psych, Geriatrics.

Work 3-11 in a state facility. You'll never be bored. Gored, maybe, but not bored.

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