Any LPN'S who work on psych units?

[PSYCHRPN]

I was just curious to the different responsibilities that other facilities have.As I have stated in another post(We are called RPN's in Canada),we do primary care and have full responsibility,dr's orders, Social Work, Meds and you name it .We deal one on one with the Psychiatrists.It took some getting used to coming from a medical unit,where we didn't deal with the Dr's.The RN's on the unit need to be afraid.There is only one task they do that we aren't supposed to do(but do anyways) is take crisis calls when the crisis nurse is off the unit.They are trying to get a policy change and we will officially be taking on that.Bring it on!

[linzz]

A lot of hospitals in Ontario are very short on psych beds so certain patients are sent up to a medical floor. Often an LPN is called to sit with a suicidal patient, often a teen, on a constant, total supervision. Some nurses love this and others just want nothing to do with it.

[BigB]

After doing psych nursing I am not sure I want to work anywhere else. It kinda grows on you.

[linzz]

I have never done psych but it is an area I am interested in. Maybe I'll try it sometime if the opportunity comes up. Thanks for the great insight Big B.

[Fiona59]

Linzz, you should check out some of the courses offered via distance ed at Mount Royal in Calgary. They are offering a mental health certificate for PNs.

[linzz]

Thank you for the tip, Fiona 59.