Restrospective

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Aug 28, 2013

Didn't intend to land in psych after graduation...only ended up here because it had better hours to work around a four year old. But I fell in love, and the rest is history.

It does take a special person to work in psych. You need patience, empathy, a sense of humor, and a bit of bravery. Like our patients, we in psych nursing are also often stigmatized. Just because our work doesn't involve the bells, whistles, blood and guts of medical-based nursing specialties doesn't mean what we're doing is any less real or significant.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Aug 28, 2013

I have always been fascinated by the human mind, especially ones that don't work the way they are supposed to. Methods used to deal with people who are more "normal" generally don't work, and you have to think on the fly and adjust. Sometimes the approach you use may be unconventional, but you have to find something that works. In terms of both medication and treatment, psychiatry is as much art as it is science. If you have a medical patient with a given diagnosis or undergoing a specific surgery, you can pretty much figure out what to do in the majority of cases. Conversely, you may have two mental health patients with identical diagnoses and symptoms who require totally different treatment approaches.

The first mental health unit I worked on was a first for my hospital. I literally opened the unit, admitting the first patient we ever got. One day the staff seemed despondent, after listening to discussions among nurses from the medical floors about the people they had saved and the sudden dramatic changes they had seen. I told my staff that we save lives all the time, we just don't usually know it. Something you say to a patient may make a profound difference in the way he or she approaches problem solving and responds to stressors. We don't get the immediate feedback that medical nurses get from seeing a patient respond to a medical procedure. Our life saving often doesn't occur until long after a patient leaves the hospital, and we usually never hear about it. The occasions when we do - when a patient calls back to tell us that we have made a difference - are particularly rewarding.

LisaNICUrn, BSN · Aug 29, 2013

I went in to nursing school wanting to be a psych nurse. Growing up I wanted to be a counselor, help people with their problems. But I wanted to the money, job security, and to know where ever I went, I had a job. I love the adrenaline rush of codes, of not knowing what to expect, but I love helping people mentally, not just physically. I've been a nurse about 7 months, and have found it really is true that it takes a special person to be a GOOD psych nurse. Anyone can come in at 7am, pass meds, process admits and discharges, doctors orders, but that seems to be all the nurses do. They forget the major aspect of psych nursing. Yes, we have our psychiatrist, our therapists, we have our group sessions, but we are more than pill pushers and glorified babysitters. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel the nurses are also their to listen, to show empathy, to try and teach coping skills. To actually evaluate our patients, especially the depressed patients, the one's who contemplate or attempt suicide. To try and get them back on the right track. I guess that's why I hear so many of our patients complain about other nurses, all they want is someone to listen. Nurses say "they just want attention, they are always like this," or "they are manipulative, don't listen to them." That's where you, as a nurse, learn your job, distinguish between the two, and still help your patients and not sit in the nurses station 80% of your day. That's a true psychiatric nurse, if you're not up to it, you're never going to help your patients.

pinkiepieRN · Aug 30, 2013

Nurses say "they just want attention, they are always like this," or "they are manipulative, don't listen to them."

My response to the first quote is always, "So see what they want! Give attention to their need and if you can meet it, great! If not, offer something else or move on!"

I hate when people automatically assume manipulation as malicious or hateful. Sure, it's a maladaptive coping skill, but they're a psych patient for a reason. You're not going to change that manipulative behavior during an acute psych stay. Pick your battles!

Lareinamorena · Aug 31, 2013

I didn't exactly plan to land in psych, but it does suit me, and I love it. I think it's such a privilege to listen to people that few else listen to, and to find the patterns in seeming chaos. I think it's no coincidence that my favorite art is abstract and my favorite patients are schizophrenic.

Kay28 · Aug 31, 2013

I love my psych job! Where else could I do an admission sitting on the floor in the dark with a patient who believes he's a vampire?

Mamaas · Sep 1, 2013

I am a new graduate and working my first job as a nurse. I work for a home health agency that visits people with mental illness. I absolutely love it! I knew I wanted to have more time with the people I was helping which is why I love it! There is more to psych nursing than passing meds. I agree that we are their to just listen and teach!

Peppermint_RN · Sep 1, 2013

I start my first job as a new grad RN this coming Tuesday as a Psych Nurse. I've always been interested in mental health nursing (that and surgery were top two choices of what I wanted to do). I love reading these posts, it is making me so excited that I lucked into finding a job in this field.

nursedanny614 · Sep 7, 2013

My favorite patients are the ones I refer to as "pleasantly psychotic" they just talk to themselves and don't bother anyone and they are nice. I have one who if he sees another patient freaking out just says "chill out" ha

SheriffLauren · Sep 14, 2013

This thread is making me feel less anxious for when I start on my psych unit. I didn't think I'd like psych in school and happened to enjoy in during clinical. I'm absolutely terrified that when it comes down to me being therapeutic and teaching coping skills that I will fail but I really think the experience will be exciting. The reason I went and applied for the position, and the reason I'm excited (other than WOW i have a job) is that the nurses attitudes are so great in psych. I totally believe that a great nurse doesn't just perform they also listen and empathize. Psych is one of the best specialties for this.

nursedanny614 · Sep 15, 2013

Best advice is lead by example when teaching coping skills. Show them how a normal reaction is by remaining calm and assertive.