To all Psych nurses and anyone thinking of going into psych. Please read...

[Julz034]

I am new to this thread, and am a nursing student, and I have been so undecided as to which way to go in nursing. My heart has always pulled at Psychiatry... peds especially, however, I'm pretty sure more than ever, this is where I want to be. This thread is long, but if you're a nurse in this area, or thinking about going to this area in nursing, it's worth while to read. I am the mother of an eight-year old autistic boy, here is my story that should give you a little motivation. =)

My son was diagnosed with Autism in 2006. The struggles we have faced, and the journey has been such a very long, hard journey. We faced great behavioral challenges, his agression was "off the charts". He has been off and on of I have no idea how many meds, I couldn't even name them all. He has ADHD that is r/t the Autism, but no ADHD med would work, they made it worse, and caused severe agression. He has been in the hospital the past three months, and he was the worst I had ever seen him, it was painful to watch him go through this. He was at Children's hospital, and as good of a hospital it may be, they psych unit was not. I don't know if the staff just wasn't properly trained, or if they mentally and phsycially just couldn't handle the demand of the psych unit. He was transfered to another local hospital that has a floor directly for ped psychiatry. They finally did a med wash, which we had been pushing for and got his meds stabilized. He got released yesterday, and when I say this, I very much mean it... I have finally met my 8 year old baby boy for the first time since birth. He is someone I've never interacted with before... He's caring, kind, loving, he shows emotions, admits to his faults, he's never been like this before. With lots of prayers, and finally being placed in the right caregivers arms, I know this will not change. Just 8 weeks ago I was looking at the worst of the worst, he was getting sedated twice a day at Children's, he was a zombie, he had no emotions, and just wasn't him. He has always cried he wants to be better, he wants to be who is on the inside of him, and as a Mom you can put a band aid on a boo boo, you can kiss a flu bug away, you can give meds for a headache, but in mental health, you can't put a band aid on it and kiss and make it go away. Your heart breaks, your family suffers, you mentally are tired and sometimes have no idea where else to turn or what to do. I finally had to give this all over to God. He's his child, and he knows what's best for him. My son eventually started to turn away prayer because he said God isn't fixing him. It's all he wanted was to be "fixed". I prayed that God would open his heart to let him in, and to have faith in what God says he can do. Between prayers and like I said his meds, he's a completely different child, and all I can do is cry and smile all at the same time. I lost my happiness for a very long time and didn't know why... he was why. Watching him go through this and being unable to do anything, it feels terrible. We've had all county and state agencies in our home, helping, teaching him, staff around the clock in the house, no one has helped... God definitely has stepped in, and I'm so greatful to the staff that he has been with to help him transition into what he is now.

Psych nurses... I know your job is tough. I deal with day in and day out, just like you guys do. However, know this... your work is appreciated. Parents hide a lot of their feelings, and frustrations because they have to be strong for their child like I did. You have to be tough, you lose your happiness, slip in to depression and never even know it, but your focus is on your child not you. You guys do amazing work, and how you can be patient and understanding and caring is what these children need. There are stressors at home that sometimes they need to be away from, just being over-stimulated. I have three other children and sometimes they were just to much for him. Nursing students, or nurses wanting to go into this field. Here's my word of advice. I think this is a field either you love or you hate. I have seen questions about how much do you make in psych etc. Don't worry about it... the rewards are great. When you see a child admitted that is how my son was, and then leave stabilized to what he is right now, you will feel great. I know I do, and the staff where he was is getting a letter from me today. Like I said, the staff at Children's... they must have really not liked it, didn't think it was what is was after they got into it, or just were burnt out. Please don't go into this field unless you're absolutely sure. Their way of dealing with him was sedation. He has been in enough places that I know this. He has had major meltdowns and everywhere else but Children's has handled them without meds, and we do here at home, but again it takes patients, it takes listening to him and not speaking it includes you may get hit or kicked but just take a deep breath in and know the melt down will end.

I wanted to write this to say that I am a parent of a child that you all deal with on a daily basis, and that I am thankful. That you do make a difference in this field. New nurses and nurses looking to transition, we definitely need good nurses in this field. Again, it's not for everyone, but if you can take the challengs, step on board! I can't even express how happy I am right now to finally see my child the way he has been wanting to be. And this message might be all over the place because all I can do is cry, I'm shaky,and I'm overwhlemed with emotions.

In nursing people think about fixing the sick. But ya know what, when you can work day in and day out with a child like my son, and help to function at his most optimum level of wellness, and he's that person he's always wanted to be, and you had the opportunity to assist in this process, it will make you feel awesome. I had no idea, when I would be able to see this side of him, I knew God was going to step in and do miracles, but it's his timing not ours.

Nurses, may God's hands be on yours everyday in everything you do and in every patients life you touch. Be open to letting him guide you. It was this most recent staff who really took hold of the situation and said what were all of these others places thinking where he's been? This is how it should be done, this is what we're going to do, and they got the results they were looking for. And also, listen to the parents instinct. I have been pushing for years to do a med wash and to put him on the med he is now on. He's literally been on every med, well almost every med, and finally what I said worked. You are a medical professional, and one day I will be too, but parents insticts usually aren't wrong. =) I hope you can see from the parents side of view how much you impact out life.

Thank you for all you do... God bless! :redbeathe

[pandora44]

Thank you so much for your post. It sounds like you, your son, and your family have gone through so much. I'm so happy that your son found such a caring unit and that you are now able to see your son for who he is.

You're right, psych nursing is not for everyone. I happen to love it. I feel like I really make a difference in my patient's lives. However, I understand how easy it is to get burnt out. We only see our patients when they are sick. And we usually see them over and over though the years. As soon as they get better they go home.

I hope your message is read by other psych nurses so that we can be reminded why we do this. Take care.

[Julz034]

Hi!

Thanks for responding back. I do believe there have been plenty of nurses who viewed the board, which is good. I'm sure you guys do get burnt out. With my son, and the unit he went to, he wasn't nearly severe as he was just even a couple of weeks before he went in there, so they don't realize how much they helped him, because they were unaware of how bad off he really was. I'm sure they thought this wasn't to big of a deal, just got him stable and let him go home. I wish they could've seen him from the start of this and until he got better. I give them the credit though, because even know my son says how much he really liked it at this hospital, compared to the others. Yes, they were strict, and they didn't let him get by with anything, but that's what it takes. Even talking in group, or throwing a pillow, just horsing around, was quiet time in a room. The other places, he could chase kids around, and jump on tables and get away it. They would let him go to the point he'd be so worked up and kick a staff member THEN he would get put in a locked room, and possible sedated. I hope all nurses remember that these kids.. really need a very very structured environment, and as much as it stinks to put them in timeout for such a small thing, it really helps them! And that sedation is rarely the answer. Many of these kids, you just have to find what can bring them back down to reality, maybe be a gentle rub on the arm for sensory stiumlation, maybe just talking about something they love, but it is possible. As a parent, it broke my heart to my child was being drugged when it wasn't necessary =(

Thanks again to psych nurses, you guys are awesome!!!!

[fawnsternurse]

Unfortunately I have seen this much too much in psychiatry. Just drug them and be done with it attitude or the opposite ,let them do whatever they want.

There are so many rules in psychiatry, legalities that as nurses we are not allowed to set any parameters at all.

I no longer work in child and adolescent psychiatry because of the extremes. In some places where I have worked the kids tore apart the unit .We were not allowed to put "hands on" at all on any level because of all the legalties. We have interpreted the law to the extreme. We cannot see the forest through the tree's. You are correct , it does take special type of professionals. Unfortunately you do not always see this.

A psych nurse is only as good as they can keep growing not only as professionals but as human beings.

In the medical realm you can almost get away with being professional but not very grounded or insightful as a human being but in psychiatry any weakness you have as a person is exposed.

For example: if you are an intolerant, inpatient type person who is prone to not being very understanding or led by your ego in any way , you will not be as theraputic for your patients because you will be pulled into their drama or in the case of child and adolescent psychiatry you will not be able to set boundaries in a loving, theraputic way.

Also as a result of the abuses that have taken place in psychiatry and in an effort to protect patients so many rules have been initiated that we are now not able to do anything!

There is so much more to say about all of this but I have worked child and adolescense, Adult, Geri psychiatry since 1997 and have worked in more than one facility and feel that I am a good historian of what takes place in psychiatry at various locales. And although I have worked with some wonderful commited psych nurses both male and females I have also worked with people who are not very professional, provokative with the patients and overall not very grounded human beings.

This is just my two cents based on my experiences.

[skyandsydneysmom]

Your story brought tears to my eyes because I too understand how painful it is to watch a child suffer. My son has epilepsy, ADD, and now after some diagnostic testing looking at OCD. It is a helpless feeling to not be able to fix these "boo-boos" for our children. It was my sons initial diagnosis with epilepsy that brought me into nursing, and now, his possible diagnosis with OCD that has me very interested in psych. You are right, there needs to be more compassionate people in this field, and that is exactly why I am thinking it may be the fit for me. No one understands how it feels more than someone experiencing it firsthand.

[Vito Andolini]

Unfortunately I have seen this much too much in psychiatry. Just drug them and be done with it attitude or the opposite ,let them do whatever they want.

There are so many rules in psychiatry, legalities that as nurses we are not allowed to set any parameters at all.

I no longer work in child and adolescent psychiatry because of the extremes. In some places where I have worked the kids tore apart the unit .We were not allowed to put "hands on" at all on any level because of all the legalties. We have interpreted the law to the extreme. We cannot see the forest through the tree's. You are correct , it does take special type of professionals. Unfortunately you do not always see this.

A psych nurse is only as good as they can keep growing not only as professionals but as human beings.

In the medical realm you can almost get away with being professional but not very grounded or insightful as a human being but in psychiatry any weakness you have as a person is exposed.

For example: if you are an intolerant, inpatient type person who is prone to not being very understanding or led by your ego in any way , you will not be as theraputic for your patients because you will be pulled into their drama or in the case of child and adolescent psychiatry you will not be able to set boundaries in a loving, theraputic way.

Also as a result of the abuses that have taken place in psychiatry and in an effort to protect patients so many rules have been initiated that we are now not able to do anything!

There is so much more to say about all of this but I have worked child and adolescense, Adult, Geri psychiatry since 1997 and have worked in more than one facility and feel that I am a good historian of what takes place in psychiatry at various locales. And although I have worked with some wonderful commited psych nurses both male and females I have also worked with people who are not very professional, provokative with the patients and overall not very grounded human beings.

This is just my two cents based on my experiences.

I find it not believable that you are not allowed to ever restrain a patient. What if he is attacking another patient or hurting himself? Surely, you have mininterpreted the rules and laws.

[Vito Andolini]

OP, God bless you and your family. Thanks so very much for sharing your story with us.

[fawnsternurse]

I find it not believable that you are not allowed to ever restrain a patient. What if he is attacking another patient or hurting himself? Surely, you have mininterpreted the rules and laws.

Hi,

With all due respect it is not my interpretation but rather the different facilities I have been employed in.

I wish I were joking but I am not.

I have seen kids destroy the unit and not one nurse has stopped them or put "hands on" in fear of repercussions. Such is the world we now live in.

Litigation fearfulness everywhere!

[Julz034]

At Children's I would believe the no hands on rule, except for the fact when I walked in one time one the of the mental health techs had his hand around the back on a child's neck trying to "control" him. The nurse came over and said, "you are not allowed to have your hands around his neck." Being they just sedate kids all the time you would think that's why they do that. One nurse got so upset with me because I questioned their "rules" and she never gave me a good answer on any questions I asked. She got very irrate with me, and I was calm the entire time, reminding her that this is MY child, if it were yours, you'd feel the same I hope, and understand why I'm questioning you. When I go in my son looks like a zombie and has bite marks all over himself, I've never seen this before in him and I don't understand why it's happening, so I want you as the psych professional here to explain it. Well, she couldn't... I have seen SO much in that unit it's heartbreaking and truly disgusting.

I'm VERY drawn to the psych field, however, don't know what I will do if I see some of things in nurses I work with, that I have seen on the units my son has been on. One place, they wouldn't even brush his teeth or help him! He said they don't give thenm a toothbrush! We called and they said they have to "ask for one!". Well, news flash! Autistic children don't understand this.. they don't understand hygeine either and will go forever without brushing their teeth unless you hand them a toothbrush and give them step-by-step directions on what they need to do. This is so sad. I don't know why or how psych units are like this. My goal: I want to see children get better, function at their MOST optimum level of wellness, and be able to function in society. It seems a lot of these facilities could care-less, they're there for a paycheck and that's it. Sad =(

I think they need to do a more in-depth interview process and psych units. Not just any nurse can handle this field, especially when you're getting beat on, holes in kicked or punched in, everything in the unit destroyed and torn a part, someone screaming to the top of their lungs for an hour, kids not going to bed, get salivia in your face more than once a day, getting bit, feeding them and the food getting spit right back in your face. Those are only SOME things you might deal with... you could have feces all over the room, and all over the child, urine in every place but the toilet... some nurses just don't have the patience to deal with it. I think that is totally fine, and can truly respect it, but why enter the field? Sorry went on another rant... just ticks me off!

[mixtapes]

Thanks, for your post. It brought tears to my eyes too. I am currently in nursing school. I keep going back and forth what I want to do. I guess it all depends on the economy and job availability.

I have worked as a board certified behavior analyst and therapist for the past 7 years w/ children w/ autism. I really want to find a way to integrate my behavioral experience/developmental disabilities with nursing. I understand the difficulty you go through. I have worked with many parents over the years. I have worked in psych hospitals and seen patients being over medicated. I don't want to be that "nurse" to just push pills down throats. I understand that meds are part of the treatment, but I want to help support parents and work on the problem behaviors.

I'm not sure my position exist, but I want to create it. Thanks, for the inspiration.