Stigma against Psych.

suebird3 · Nov 13, 2005

understood, fergus; it takes all sorts of us for the varied type of patients we care for.

our ltc facility has "psych" patients....alzheimers, etc. what a fun bag when they are either confused or "with it"!

sueb

fergus51 · Nov 13, 2005

understood, fergus; it takes all sorts of us for the varied type of patients we care for.
our ltc facility has "psych" patients....alzheimers, etc. what a fun bag when they are either confused or "with it"!
sueb

:chuckle that was one of my best experiences as a nursing student (working the dementia ward). those nurses were all just so sweet and smart about how to deal with those folks.

mebeafrn · Nov 14, 2005

I 'spose we're all just a little bit"off" in our own way,just depends on how tolerant we are willing to be of another way to function than our own. Not to say that which takes advantage of the volunerable-young or old- is acceptable. There is more than one "correct" way to live,we just need to help, without interjecting our own belief system,our pt.s find their own way. Thx,MAC-p.s. what is this "warn" thing at the bottom?have I been bad? if so I'd like to know so I can fully enjoy the moment of rebellion:-) MAC

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Nov 14, 2005

Warn: (0%)

It is the new warning system. All have it. You can only see your own. Each bead between 0-100% represents about 20% in relation to TOS violation. 100% means ban by Admin. You are OK. You have 0%. Even Moderators have them.

Now, don't be getting an ideas to jack up your meter! :)

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2005

i would like to know how many nurses have relatives who are depressed, etc. this was a subject often not brought up as recently as the '50's. i also wonder how many of these same people who are "against" psych may eventually "need" some type of psych med. jmho.
suebird

my mother is bi-polar, so i personally am aware of the blessing psych meds can bring to a persons life. however, i'm being treated the opposite of the opening poster. because many people know my mother has a mental illness, i often hear "you should go into psych nursing." i'm greatful somebody goes into the psych field, but i've never had any desire to do so. i think when i get to my psych clinicals it'll be interesting since i'll be learning more about a illness that affects my family, but not the type of thing i'd want to do full-time.

PMHNP10 · Nov 20, 2005

I am doing my pre-req's for nursing and many people ask me what field of nursing I want to go into. I am really interested in psych. nursing but when I tell them they scrunch up their face and say "why would you want to do that?" :angryfire Even if I haven't brought it up and I ask the nurses I work with what their favorite/ least favorite part of clinicals were or what area they would never go into, one of them says psych. and they all nod their heads in approval. It's like psych. nursing is lower (in a sense?) than medical nursing. Has anyone else come across this? What's your opinion?
Keely

Different strokes for different folks. While there are those who think psych nursing isn't really nursing, and some think it's a place for burnt out med/surg nurses to turn, there are those who don't like the perceived danger, and those who don't want to have to listen to their pts. "whine" about their problems. And sometimes people react because they can't imagine doing anything other than what they are doing.

mebeafrn · Nov 21, 2005

ooops,clicked wrong,can't find escape key,:imbar

bethin · Nov 21, 2005

I have noticed that there is stigmas attached to what seems like every nursing speciality---and people aren't afraid to get rude in front of you. Psych sounds interesting but I don't know if I could handle knowing that some people are institutionalized for life. It seems so sad to me. Maybe for you, you can look at it as a chance to get to know your patients very well. I work on a med/surg floor as an aide and I get those "ewww, med/surg" comments. When I changed my majors in college I stopped speaking to my best friend at the time. I was pre-law and when I changed she got soooooo mad at me. She said "why would you want to go from making $200,000/yr to making $35,000/yr?" Because it's what I LOVE to do---and that's all that matters in the end.

Do you think that there is a certain snobbiness that goes with this? As in, "my speciality is better because I have to know more". I've noticed it at the place where I work. Sad. We're all here to take care and help people.

Nursebaby23 · Nov 21, 2005

I am lucky enough to live close to a state mental health facility that has been around over 100 years. My grandmother worked there as a nurse and my mother did as a NA. OMG, the stories they have told! My interest in psych nursing started with them! I absolutely loved my psych rotation; there was a part of me that was genuinely interested in their story and backgrounds. I loved talking to them. It is a very different type of nursing care indeed, and it takes a special person to love this kind of work and feel like they make a difference. But that can be attributed to any kind of nursing. People who aren't nurses (yet) can get cought up in the hype of what is "pretty", "cute", or "glamorous" nursing. 99% of the folks in my class want to work L&D or the ER when they graduate:rolleyes: They can have it!

mayzeegrl · Nov 21, 2005

Keely, I think it's great that you want to get into psyche nursing. There isn't anything wrong with wanting to help the mentally ill, as they are people too. And psyche nursing is not a lower form of nursing. Maybe these people you talk to who scrunch up their noses do so because they know they don't have what it takes or know that it is or can be hard work. But, you can make a difference in peoples' lives by going into this field if this is what you want to do. There is still a misconception and stigma about the mentally ill, but I say go for it and don't pay any attention to critiscism others give you............Best wishes

:balloons:

kris19620 · Nov 21, 2005

Im glad your interested! Someone has to do it. Psych was actually my favorite rotation, although I didnt wish to stay. I found it to be way interesting. As for the stigma. Dont give it a second thought. I work in the Er. I find it to be a world unto its own. You are seperated from the rest of the hospital. People dont understand just how it all works. And although we dont care for patients in the same manner as the floors we still do a very necessary job. Psych nursing is specialized. I think any stigma would be from people who would look down on you because its not in the mainstream. Be proud, people need you just as much as the rest of us. Find pride in doing something that most cant or wont do.

hbncns35 · Nov 21, 2005

Hello All -

I think Oncology gets a bad rap too. People think its so tough to watch somebody die but then people are dying in cardiac as well. Personally I have 20 years exp. with being afflicted and people keep telling me Oh you would be a great nurse! I probably would but I don't think I could be objective enough. I would constantly be defending the patients all the time and my idea of working in a Psych hospital just reminds me that I have already had a Besides once you deal with your own illness you can deal with everybody elses- Kind of a benefit there....An edge.....Looking forward to changing lives in Oncology!!!:rotfl: