Smarten me up please! I come to you humble.

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

Hello all!

I have just graduated from school and was hired by my current employer. It is a psychiatric hospital that works with all age groups and different levels of acuity. I have worked as a tech for two years to see how well I could take (or block) a punch and if I could handle the intense emotional up and downs of the specialty. I will be in the highest acuity locked adult unit. I worked there as a tech though and I know exactly what I will be getting into.

So far so good. :)

I am actually wanting reading materials while I am studying for my boards that are specific to psych that are not in the textbook format. Anything and everything that you think would be helpful and make S-M-R-T, feel free to point me in that direction.

I am super excited to start but I want extra weapons in my orificenal.

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Welcome to the dark side! :)

Two excellent psych journals are The Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nursing Associations (the latter requires membership in the APNA, unless your local/school library has a subscription). Check them out.

Specializes in leadership, corrections.

The resources posted are great. You may find it beneficial to join a professional association - yearly meetings, workshops, and a great venue to network with others across the globe. There are also online webinars for behavioral health. And finally, it would be beneficial to join your local Medical Reserves Corp- they hold tons of free classes to members from psychological first aid and many more.

Congratulations and best to you!

Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

Congrats to you. I don't know about any resources for psych as I am a critical care nurse. I just wanted to wish you the best.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Hello all!

I have just graduated from school and was hired by my current employer. It is a psychiatric hospital that works with all age groups and different levels of acuity. I have worked as a tech for two years to see how well I could take (or block) a punch and if I could handle the intense emotional up and downs of the specialty. I will be in the highest acuity locked adult unit. I worked there as a tech though and I know exactly what I will be getting into.

So far so good. :)

I am actually wanting reading materials while I am studying for my boards that are specific to psych that are not in the textbook format. Anything and everything that you think would be helpful and make S-M-R-T, feel free to point me in that direction.

I am super excited to start but I want extra weapons in my orificenal.

*** I have absolutly no idea. Anyone who punches me stands a good chance of finding themselves intubated, or at least drugged and tied to the bed.

I just wanted to say I love your attitude and wish more new nurses had a similar attitude.

Enjoy!!!!! I always knew I couldn't do the job, but someone has to!!! Let us know how it goes!

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

Awww good luck to you!

Thanks everyone :)

The market where I live has been tight for a couple of years now. I knew I had to give my best every day I brought my butt to work. I told my mom it was like being on a two year interview with random physical attacks. It paid off. I have to thank you all helping me when I stalked the psych specialty board a couple years back. Everyone encouraged students wanting to get a job to try on the role of the tech first. I'm glad I did. I can't imagine not having the experience of aggressive clients and physical management prior to my first day as a nurse. I'm ninja quick with those skills now ;-) ... and anyhow it's not like they will stop swinging just because my name tag says RN on it.

If any student stalkers are reading this thread, get your butt in the hospital for a psych tech position. Do it! You don't know what the market will be like even a year from now.

As for reading material, check out the NAMI website and other associations for mentally ill. Empowerment and respect issues are huge. It helps to understand their views. The worst thing I witnessed in psych student orientation was disrespectful attitudes toward patients (and some really lame group therapy sessions!) Nurses (some, not all) sat inside their locked and glassed-in nurses station and discussed patients, seemingly for the sake of gossip rather than any supportive or therapeutic intent. I was disgusted, but as a student, had no recourse except to mention it to my fellow students and hope we would avoid that behavior ourselves. Maybe it's best to pretend the glass and locks aren't there and at any moment our comments could be picked up on the intercoms. My other thought is our time would be better spend interacting with patients, instead of in gossiping about them. Those are my only words of advice, except to keep nonviolent intervention skills up to date. As you've found out, they do become automatic eventually, so you can protect yourself without even thinking, in the blink of an eye. I've worked in locked units where I experienced fear every day. After a couple years, I had a good case of PTSD going.

Good luck. Your efforts will be rewarded (in heaven, or the next life, as we used to say:)..). But your patients/clients will appreciate you, for sure.

For a good list of books, go to NAMI website and enter "Books" in the search field. You'll find lists and databases of books, videos, interviews, etc.

I started of on the ICU, went to corrections and I've been doin psyche for a lil now. So far the things I'm findin out

A major part of psychiatric problems are sensory nerves generally in the Basil Ganglia.

The Basil ganglia is composed of 4 nucleus:

1. The Striatum ( caudate nucleus and putamen)

2. Pallidium( known as the Globus pallidus)

3. Substantia Nigra

4. The nucleus accendum

Substation Nigra is big d/t the role of dopamine neurotransmitters. Also, that's where our reward center, addiction and some motor movement are at. Too much dopamine schizophrenic Sxs become present. Ex:When Somone does cocaine they receive pleasure d/t the dopamine but too much they start to hallucinate and potentially become psychotic.

Antiphyschotics can cause EXTRA PYRAMIDAL syndromes( I hope I'm spelling this right).

1. Acute Dystonia : this happen hrs to several days after first dose.

Signs are muscle spasms of the face,tongue, neck, back and even laryngeal spasms Which is life threatening.

2. Akathesia: which happens a couple months after first dose. Pt become restless, always has to move, squirming when staying still and very anxious and afraid because this is unwanted

3.Parkisonia syndrom: mimics Parkinson's.

4. Tar dive Dyskinesia: smacking of the lips, twirling , involuntary muscle movement of the fingers toes, and abnormal speech.

All of EPS happens in the basil ganglia. The AIMS is required tool to asses patients for EPS.

There's more. If you have any specific questions just ask.

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