book reccomendations for new psych nurse

MikeLPN · Mar 2, 2005

Psychotropic Drugs by Keltner/Folks published by Mosby. It is very comprehensive, detailed and small in size.

pattyjo, MSN, RN · Mar 2, 2005

I am transferring into a psych unit from NICU and am getting a little nervous / excited. I have always wanted to be a psych nurse but feel nervous because of lack of experience. I was wondering if anyone has a favorite reference or inspiring books they could reccommend.

Welcome to psych; I wish you well, and stay excited!

You could probably get any current basic text that would give you the "facts" and of course, as already mentioned, a med book for review.

However, I also find it helpful to read the "real world" experiences of people who have suffered with mental illness. These pop into mind, and I know I have more:

Darkness Visible by William Styron (very short, intense book about his depression,excellent. It literally took my breath away)

A Brilliant Madness by Patty Duke, who was undiagnosed bipolar for years.

An Unquiet Mind, by Kay Redfield Jamison, also diagnosed with bipolar. (Actually, all of her books are worthwhile) She's a professor at Johns Hopkins.

The Day the Voices Stopped by Ken Steele who lived with schizophrenia much of his life.

I think reading these kinds of books helps us to know these illnesses from the perspective of those who are challenged on a daily basis.

Good luck!

Patty

delusional · Mar 12, 2005

You might also want to get Psychiatric Nursing Made Incredibly Easy by Lippincott. It has everything you will need to know (for now).

Hukilau · Mar 15, 2005

"Inpatient Group Psychotherapy" by Irvin Yalom.

You probably won't actually get to do any group therapy, but Yalom's writing style is very enjoyable and informative and will give you a solid foundation in how to THINK about what you are doing with psychiatric patients.

(Note: make sure you get the inpatient group therapy book, he also wrote one on standard group therapy which doesn't apply nearly as well.)

danu3 · Mar 15, 2005

Here are some nonNursing books:

"Surviving Schizophrenia" by E. Fuller Torrey.

"When someone you love is Depressed - How to help your loved one without losing yourself" by Laura Epstein Rosen and Xavier Francisco Amador (good book as it deals with different roles like spouse, child, parent, friend...)

"Cognitive Therapy for Delusions, Voices and Paranoia" by Paul Chadwick, Max Birchwood , Peter Trower (not that you are going to do therapy, but some stuff in the book, you might be able to use)

"I am not sick I don't need help!" by Xavier Amador with Anna-Lisa Johanson (her mother made headline when she had the delusion that she was married to David Letterman; unfortunately she killed herself later).

"Personal Therapy for schizophrenia and related Disorders" by Geerad Hogarty (academic; you probably can pick up some stuff in here that you can use).

"Out of the shadows - confronting America's mental illness crisis" by E. Fuller Torrey.

"Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People for Change" 2nd edition by WR Miller, et al. (again not that you are doing therapy, but there might be something you can pick up here and there; good book if you need to deal with addition or things like medication noncompliant).

"The invisible plague - the rise of mental illness from 1750 to the present" by E. Fuller Torrey and Judy Miller (interesting reading if you like history; boring if you don't)

"The schizophrenia: A biological approach to the schizophrenia spectrum disorders" by Mary coleman and Christopher Gillberg (I never read this one but heard that it is good; Good book if you are interested in other diseases that have schizophrenia like manifestation).

"No Longer Alone - Mental Health and the Church" by John Toews with Eleanor Loewen ( Christian spirituality and mental illness; one of the few balanced book)

Check out your local NAMI chapter and see if they have any monthly meetings which are open to the public.

-Dan

danu3 · Mar 15, 2005

As for reference books, there are many. If you are willing to spend some money and go for an overkill, try "Kaplan & Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry" 7th edition. It is a two volume set. I would look around for a used copy (way more affordable).

Also try

http://www.mentalhealth.ucla.edu/opce/gr.html

http://www.mentalhealth.ucla.edu/opce/tuesdays.html

UCLA Grand Rounds. Good site to keep up with current psychiatry topics.

-Dan

FutureRNMichael · Mar 16, 2005

Also try
http://www.mentalhealth.ucla.edu/opce/gr.html
http://www.mentalhealth.ucla.edu/opce/tuesdays.html
UCLA Grand Rounds. Good sit to keep up with current psychiatry topics.
-Dan

Wow, thanks for the links! I've been watching some of the grand rounds tonight, good stuff!!

new2psych · Mar 16, 2005

Wow! thanks for all of your responses. There is more than enough responses to get me started.