Are there any Psych/Medical Units?

[NursesRmofun, ASN, RN]

I have seen high numbers psychiatric patients with medical diagnosis's over the years-- many years. Some may not have been diagnosed yet, but were suspected of having mental health issues. Many times, the behaviors are much harder to deal with than the medical dx when caring for these patients. I have heard of Geriatric Psych Units, but never have actually seen a unit like this- other than in a SNF. Has anyone worked for a specialty Psych/Medical Unit or Geriatric Psych Unit in a hospital setting? It would be great to have MD's- Medical Docs and/or Psychiatrists deal with the psychiatric part of the patient's issues, not merely use it as admission criteria. I have never seen such a unit in my career. I think there is a need for it, but maybe it isn't beneficial for the hospitals? Maybe some of you have some insight on this.

Just to be clear, I am not talking about just Dementia here, but all problems including drug/medication addiction.

[Sour Lemon]

I've worked in a med/surg unit for patients with a stable psychiatric diagnosis ...although the stable part was questionable for some patients. And my home unit is planning to convert to geri/psych (from straight psych), but from what I hear, that's been the plan for years and it hasn't happened yet. They have been hiring lots of new med/surg nurses, though ...so we'll see.

[NursesRmofun, ASN, RN]

I've worked in a med/surg unit for patients with a stable psychiatric diagnosis ...although the stable part was questionable for some patients. And my home unit is planning to convert to geri/psych (from straight psych), but from what I hear, that's been the plan for years and it hasn't happened yet. They have been hiring lots of new med/surg nurses, though ...so we'll see.

Interesting! So needed!

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

I work in med psych. Just started last month. It seems to be good for patients who are sent to us appropriately. It's almost never boring.

[Nature_walker, ASN, BSN, RN]

I did one clinical rotation on a geri-psych floor. I liked my psych experience so much that I am now working in an emergency psych department, We have a psych/med floor in our hospital. It's a good blend of both psych skills and med/surg skills. The one person I know who was hired on it loves it a lot!

[NursesRmofun, ASN, RN]

I work in med psych. Just started last month. It seems to be good for patients who are sent to us appropriately. It's almost never boring.

I bet it is not boring! It would be interesting to see if the unit has protocols that actually work better than tossing a person with mental health/behavioral issues onto a busy medical floor that has almost no protocols. A monitor room with no one to man the monitoring doesn't help.

[NursesRmofun, ASN, RN]

I did one clinical rotation on a geri-psych floor. I liked my psych experience so much that I am now working in an emergency psych department, We have a psych/med floor in our hospital. It's a good blend of both psych skills and med/surg skills. The one person I know who was hired on it loves it a lot!

Emergency Psych must be interesting! At the same time, it might get scary sometimes....if someone comes out swinging!

[Nature_walker, ASN, BSN, RN]

Emergency Psych must be interesting! At the same time, it might get scary sometimes....if someone comes out swinging!

It is very interesting. People have taken swings at us, but we try really hard to de-escalate that before it gets too out of control. Never a dull moment, and every hour brings us something new!

[djh123]

1/2 of a wing at a local hospital is a psych/medical unit. And of course, my LTC facility has a big mix too (and as you say, I'm not just talking about dementia).

[NursesRmofun, ASN, RN]

1/2 of a wing at a local hospital is a psych/medical unit. And of course, my LTC facility has a big mix too (and as you say, I'm not just talking about dementia).

I wish we had a unit just for psych/medical. We really could use it! I'm not even saying I want to work there, but I think it is a needed specialty!

[NursesRmofun, ASN, RN]

It is very interesting. People have taken swings at us, but we try really hard to de-escalate that before it gets too out of control. Never a dull moment, and every hour brings us something new!

I think I might like a position like yours', as long as I didn't get hit. lol I like the idea that it's not a situation where you see the patient for days in a row (hopefully). You treat and send them off to a hospital unit or some type of psych or behavioral setting. Don't have to "keep" anyone long, I'm guessing

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

My first job was on a med/tele unit with an inordinate number of patients with heavy psych co-morbidities. We were not an official med psych unit per se, but it turns out we were a dumping ground for these kind of patients because other med surg units refused to take them. Found out some of the doctors at the hospital nicknamed our unit "The Abyss" because of our reputation. It took a toll on the staff, working with these patients was tough and naturally the turnover was incredibly high.