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Our psych hospital has about 650 pts. Each ward has about 25 pts. Staffing: 1-2 RNs, 1 LPN, 3-5 techs. This is NOT enough staff as we provide activities(like on-grounds walks, yard, gym, fitness,...

We don't wear scrubs at our psych hospital; we wear casual clothes like jeans and t-shirts. My keys are attached to a lanyard; the lanyard is attached to a carabiner and the carabiner is hooked to a...

I agree. I wish I'd just finished my Masters degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology back in 1985 instead of returning to nursing. Too late now: no $, no desire, too old, and too close to retirement.

I believe that nurses should remember that spiritual needs are very important aspects of the patient's total healthcare. If a nurse is NOT of the same belief system as his/her patient, then get the...

Congrats! Now for the advice: Be prepared for constant interruptions during med passes, when on the phone with MDs, doing treatments. Often you are understaffed and need to help the CNAs or take on a...

You've indeed shown tons of perseverance! Continue to keep your chin up and positive thoughts going. Since this economy is so poor, keep the CNA job(s) until you land an LPN job. Keep in mind, too,...

Thanks, Elladora, for sharing that. I think I need to memorize that! Our ward has been "high" lately....seems the patients' degrading, verbal abuse is on the rise(which I have ALWAYS taken...

Go to GoodWill and invest in some jeans, t-shirts(inexpensive clothes). Then when you have to take a patient down and seclude him, or deal with those violent patients who throw feces on you, you...

Our patients in the psych hospital have many medical issues too. However, primarily, we deal with strange behaviors, verbal/physical abuse from these patients. Sometimes they're hallucinating; most...

I've been a nurse for over 27 years; most of that time was in LTC, some in a medical office, last 8 years in mental health. If I were you, I'd stay put in the medical office. Medical office basically...

Well, speaking from a Christian point of view, IF you apply and IF you get the job, my guess is that God is truly LEADING you TO that job! He has reasons for all He does. May you hear His voice in...

Street clothes are common at our psych hospital in most areas. Some RNs still wear scrubs in the geiatric wards. Most RNs, LPNs in the forensic areas wear street clothes(jeans, t-shirts, etc),...

Not all LPNs work in LTC or medical offices. Many work in psych hospitals, hemodialysis clinics, home health. We may be a dying breed so to speak but we're NOT dead yet! Also, some of us LPNs have...

I am sorry you're going through this. Alas, in our mental health hospital, the administration runs things much the same way. I imagine many psych facilities(as well as others) operate this way. The...

Don't remind them to call you. If they want to plan a scxond interview they will call YOU.

Our "therapy" at our mental hospital consists of many, demeaning things. In the geriatric program "treatment hall", I've witnessed the patients making a "quilt"; this is accomplished by selecting...

I sympathize with you, SuperStarLPN. I worked in it for 5.5 years until I had to get out of it. Very challenging but rewarding work BUT the noncompliance(and there IS a lot of it) gets tiresome...yet...

There isn't any recourse at our facility. It's understood that we hire on with the understanding of the "potential"(which is actual, not potential) violence(which includes assault, rape, etc);...

While LTC is definitely much more stressful(and more distasteful) than clinic nursing, you use your nursing skills much more as well as more time management skills in LTC. It might behoove you to get...

I worked as an NA(nurse's aide only; there wasn't certification back then) before nursing school. I feel it helped tremendously.

I agree with the above poster. I worked 5.5 years in hemodialysis many years ago for Gambro as an LPN and loved it. Though I am not in AZ, our PCTs did not have to be CNAs; they just went through the...

There is no such thing as job security in ANY field. I've been a nurse for 27 years; wish I'd done something else but bills just became larger and larger. For the most part I'd say that it's been an...

I can certainly relate to what you're saying...and I've been a nurse for nearly 27 years. Many(if not most) of skilled nursing facilities are short-staffed, have overwhelming med passes, and...

Congrats! It's a challenging field of nursing. Be ready for all kinds of abuse...and not just from patients but from coworkers, management too. I wish that weren't the case but it is in our hospital....

I gather from many threads that LPNs aren't in the main medical hospitals or I'd suggest the psych unit within one of those. Also, like others, I am one of the few psych LPNs(we have about 35-40...