Published
This is a new thread for psych nurses to ask for support in non-psychiatric skills they need brushed up on or have questions about "as related to their current practice" as a psychiatric nurse.
What do you need more of as a psychiatric nurse?
Hope to see some responses.
I'm amazed on how much I forgot my lab values and their implications. I know that sounds way bad...don't worry, I am reviewing them :)
For example, we were given a quiz that was more geared towards med/surg and it mentioned PO2, CO2, and a whole lot of other values and we had to say what was wrong. My brain screeched to a halt... and I kinda chuckled. It has been a year since we had that type of stuff and I was amazed on how much the phrase, you use it or lose it, really is true.
TrudyRN
1,343 Posts
I think Psych nurses should be able to do simple things like remember that not all patients who scratch or pick their wounds are doing it for attention. Maybe their skin/wound itches, burns, hurts.
Do good dressings, remember that you are treating a whole person, not just someone with a mental illness. Do neurocirc checks in those with casts or other restrictive dressings when there could be n-c compromise. Actually evaluate someone with a physical c/o. Check breath or bowel sounds. Eval VS.
I think just a good Med-Surg Review that would cover essentials of each body system and common diseases of each system should be required q 1-2 years for Psych nurses, just as M-S nurses should be repeatedly refreshed about Psych issues.