A little freaked out. Need advice.

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Hi everyone,

I need a little advice on a situation that has me rethinking going into Psych. I am a student in the RN program, and will be graduating in December. I am in the mental health clinical right now and absolutly love it. I really would love to do this when I am done with school, but a situation happened last night in clinical that has totally freaked me out and made me rethink things and since most of you have lots of experience in psych, I was hoping for advice.

I was leading a group activity that was an assignment for class. Basically, people would talk about something they like, get a prize, and someone else who also likes the same thing would stand up and name something they like. It did help people come out of there shell a little and begin socializing. After it was all done, I went to lunch with my instructor. When I came back, the RN called myself and my instructor into a room and said A man in the group said I was hitting on him and made him feel uncomfortable. Well, first I am a straight male, and second I wasen't anywhere near him during group. In fact I didn't even know his name. My instructor and 3 other students where in the group and where as confused as I was, they decided to go and talk to the patient (a Bioplar patient.) He then said I had given him an extra piece of candy and he thought I was comming on to him. Everything is fine now because I had whitnesses, I understand to always try to have someone with you when with a patient but I know if I go into psych, there will be times that I will not be so lucky. It could have been his word against mine. My instructor told me she really thought I would do good in Psych and said this stuff happens to her also.

I am sorry about the long post, I just am a little confused. Has this happened to anyone else? How, as a soon to be new nurse should I deal with this in the future? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

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It won't be the last time to happen, i'm sure. Having other staff as witnesses and never being a closed room with a patient will help. Where I work, with child and adolescents, we don't let guys go into the rooms at night to get vitals or whatever. And we always have another staff present for physicals.

There's always 2 of us on the unit as well. Always think to yourself how things will look in a courtroom and you should be fine.

I wouldn't let this incident deter you though. Keep your chin up and keep pushing forward.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Definitely don't let this discourage you from trying psych. Just keep it in mind and remember to stay in view of other staff members.

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This could happen to you in any field of nursing you want to work in. Just be extra vigilant as to how others could interpret your words/actions. Protect yourself and CYA. Because we are students, guests in the facility, we may be more friendly than the regular staff at times. Good luck with NS.

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Specializes in mental health; hangover remedies.

Firstly - I am appalled at the RN who was unable to recognise this for what it was.

Secondly - I am shocked that the Instructor and other students then confront this man about the event.

Everything is fine cos you had witnesses is a sorry state to get in. Not your fault of course; that's the way defensive health care goes.

I've been falsely accused of assault, abuse and rape by patients.

Never once have I been subject to interrogation or bad management - nor have I let it interfere with my clinical relationships. I still do what I have to do.

I avoid being single guy in a room with a female patient because it's intimidating for them - rather than I am afraid of false accusation.

Yes I run a risk.

I know this.

I assess and manage risk for a living.

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Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.

what is your best "hangover remedy"????

just curious......

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Specializes in mental health; hangover remedies.

Don't get drunk.

Prevention is better than cure.

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Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
Don't get drunk.

Prevention is better than cure.

Yes, of course....but that is not a remedy, that is a preventing the problem....I thought you had a secret "old wives cure".........Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, LOL.............oh, well....I wil just have to stay sober this week....LOL....:wink2:

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If he was bi-polar then his interpretation of your behaviour may have more to do with some delusional thinking and hypersexuality then anything else. Just be very, very careful around him.

I was in a situation a few years ago where a female teen who was bipolar and in a manic state 'fell in love' with a male co-worker. Had to be ultra careful as EVERYTHING he did or said she interpreted as being about their 'relationship'. Then she saw me talking and laughing with him in the office and she decided I was trying to steal her man...and lo and behold I found myself in the midst of a perceived love-triangle - and wow was she out to get me...no one was going to take 'her man' from her!! She was still quite functional and quite persuasive in her point in view. My manager actually asked me at one point if there was anything going on between all of us! She fully beleived me and supported us - just felt she had to ask to be sure! I actually had to avoid talking to my coworker and stay as far from this patient as possible because the sight of me would send her into a rage. Finally her meds kicked in and she settled abit and reality returned and all was well - although she remained a little suspicious of me till the end!

Just be vigilant, stay calm, don't confront him, and never be alone with him.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

Old wives hangover prevention: drink as much water as you drink alcohol-laden fluids. Most of the symptoms of hangover are due to dehydration....

If you wake up with a raging headache...drink MORE water...

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Specializes in Medsurg/ Psych.

Hi Phinur, your post is from a month ago, but you are probably still in school. I have been nursing only 2+years. I just want to encourage you to think about where you work after getting your license. I very strongly suggest you do at least one year of med/surg. I was very blessed to get into a new grad program that was 3 months long. it was like another semester. if you can get into something like that, learn the ropes on the med/surg floor. when you go to psych, you will be much better prepared to take care of your patients. I did my year on the medical floor and then transfered to psych. I am the nurse they call to draw blood when no one else can. I'm the nurse they ask to listen to lungs when they are concerned an elderly patient might be coming down with pneumonia. I also work the medical floor occasionally just to keep up my skills. I enjoy psych nursing, but it may not be the only thing I ever do. So I am trying to keep my options open. Psych nurses tend to get into it and never do anything else. You might want to have more choices down the road. Just a thought.

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Specializes in Psychiatry (PMHNP), Family (FNP).

Yes I agree with much of what was written above. Maintain professionalism at all times and especially w. certain diagnostic groups. Remember he could have been projecting some latent interest towards you. All this happened to me a few times, especially early on when you are learning how to deal with it all. Don't let this discourage you, sounds like you will be great!

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