Dear Pysch Nurses

[Crazed]

Why does everyone treat me like I have a communicable disease when I tell them psychiatric nursing is the only specialty I'm drawn to?

Do you have this problem also?

[jeanyis]

I was the only one who wasn't ommmmgggg sssoooo excited for babbbiiiieeessss and mmmooommmmmmssssss. There wasn't enough ear bleach that day.

I'm lollin'. If there was a "love this post" button, I'd be mashing it.

I'd rather do 2 semesters of cardiac stuff than one of mother/baby. Ugh!

[Isitpossible, LPN, LVN]

Recent grad and just interviewed for a psych nurse position. I am praying that I get this job, I LOVE PSYCH!!! what is wrong with working with people that have brain disorders? How is it less "skilled" than cardiac disorders. What is that Look about. I think any area of nursing has the propensity for violence, ED, med-surge ANYWHERE!!... and contrary to what people think, one is not more "at risk" because they work in psych... psych offers the totality of the person...during my clinicals on med-surge units the was more focus was the here and now...psych is here, now, past and future!!! ... hoping i get this position!!

[villarrs]

I hope you get the position also, as you sound empathetic, understanding, and appear able to see the big picture! There is

a lot of insight needed into psych...I have worked in an inpatient locked unit for the last five years after experience in

med surg, home health, correctional nursing, and ER...to have respect for each area is a very important quality...there is

something about treating wounds on the outside that gains more respect than treating wounds on the inside...kind of like a

slow bleed that affects every area of one's life yet gets ignored due to the stigma that comes with treatment...each and every

one of us need coping skills through out our lives and some of us were blessed with supportive family, friends, a sound mind,

etc. while others grew up in war zones, so to speak....with little to work with, and much trauma...this is why we patiently

accept and teach and encourage our patients...some actually get better! We do most everything on our unit and have a very

special camaraderie...hope you find the same..

[fellowshipofthecat]

I'm about to graduate from nursing school. I have known since my psych rotation that psychiatric nursing is for me. I'm lucky in that my fellow students and instructors understand my choice; that it suits my personality and psychosocial skills. Some do say, psych nursing is not for them, that it requires a mentality akin to madness. I too have always had serious interest in mental health, having considered becoming either a psychiatrist, psychologist or LPC. But none of them are as encompassing as nursing.

[RN58186]

I have never worked psych, and know that I would not be able to do it. I don't have what it takes to be a good psych nurse. But, I am exceedingly grateful for those who do work psych and have been there when I have needed their services. To me psych nurses are highly under-rated and for those who have found their niche in psychiatry, kudos to you!

[fisherpe]

Hello Everyone,

I have read everyone's comments about their enjoyment in Psych and the Psych specialty in nursing! I am strongly thinking about nursing and pursuing an MSN in Family Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing! I am currently working in clinical research involving HIV/AIDS and I have been performing individual and group therapy for a couple of years as well! I currently have a Masters degree in Social Work (MSW) and I wanted to know if any of you or know of any nurses who also have a MPH in addition to their MSN specialty as a PsychNP? Is it beneficial to have this degree along with ones MSN credential? I have a strong interest in public health particularly health education and prevention; and psychiatric rehabilitation. In addition, I want to gain more clinical skills in understanding how ones mental/behavioral health affects ones physical health! I welcome your professional advice and expertise!

[maubabylove]

huh? i dont think so.. psychiatric nursing is quite challenging. actually i also wanted to try this course in nursing.

[maubabylove]

im a nursing graduate.. board passer.. got a bit of nursing experience..

im in a dificult circumstance/situation right now, diagnosing myself as passively dependent person.

now i find myself getting better and moving on---

nursing interventions i did for myself::: reading self-help books, drinking coffee at least once a day but not more than 2 times a day, eating chocolates (especially with almonds), music therapy, sometimes drawing, and writing anything i would like. hahaha exercising and encouraging myself, getting a life outside the life of somebody i used to cling to.

still find myself crazy sometimes.. but im getting more aware of what i am doing and helping myself manage my emotions.

Thanks

[Merlyn]

Because the normal people think that there is something wrong with you or else you would work in a real hospital.

Some other nurses think that it is easy, and you really don't work because you don't wear a stethoscope around your neck and your pockets are not bulging with stuff. But let a mentally ill patient go on a Med/Surg floor and we are the first ones they call.

[abooker]

I tell them that the Airway, Breathing, Circulation hierarchy we are taught to focus on seems completely irrelevant to a patient who lacks the capacity to enjoy it. The traditional disciplines help them medically, but we help them make it all worthwhile again, so they can meet their personal goals.

I believe psych nursing may hold the key to our next leap forward in health care. "Normal" patients are making unfortunate and irrational compliance and lifestyle decisions which contribute to repeat hospitalizations, even with the new technologies. The psych population may hold the key to addressing irrational decisions.

[Merlyn]

Because the normal people fear us. Like I said in my first post they think there is something wrong with us and they are right there is - it is called compassion. So much compassion that we are willing to risk our safety just care for the patients that have the worst disease in the world- Mental Illness. A little kid with a cut finger gets more sympathy then a patient affected with Suicidal depression. The patient is told to snap out of it. They can't because in their minds, they are ten feet under water while the rest of the world is above them. If and when he takes his own life the normal people say that was stupid. He thew away his life. We try to help patient like this using our minds. For which we are looked down upon. It sucks.

[empathetic gal]

Because the normal people fear us. Like I said in my first post they think there is something wrong with us and they are right there is - it is called compassion. .

Powerful words. Hope you guys don't mind me butting in, just a hopeful nursing student here, learning as much about the field as I can. Mental health and addictions is something I'm quite passionate about!