Advice for newbie in mental health

Published Jul 13, 2016

8 Posts

Hey everyone!

So with my BSN program starting in the coming weeks, I decided to take a position as a MHW at College Hospital in Costa Mesa. I'm gonna be working in the CSU which is their crisis stabilization unit--lowest functioning patients in the hospital. Those of you that have worked for CHCM or its sister hospitals, what have been your experience there? The staff seems super friendly and it's a real team-like environment with many of the staff having been there for 10+ years (which has to be a good sign).

Also, those in that have worked in any psych environments, what did you do to get accustomed to such a unique setting? I've worked in the past as a sitter so I'm aware of the unique personalities and unpredictability of many psych patients, but I've never had to deal with a unit of 26 patients. It's a free-standing psych hospital that takes mostly low income, homeless, etc. I was able to shadow a bit today during orientation and it seems like this place could really be my niche so I want to give it my best. Any feedback is really appreciated