challenges in psych nursing.

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I often wonder everytime am at work what will be best for my patient? As psych nurses at the end of the day when our brains are tired from all the barganing LOL, redirections and family dynamics of our patients have we really achived a goal. Have we reached out to someone?

I want my fellow psych nurses to share how they cope with their day at work. Lets share our stories and words of encouragements.

Lets go Nurses!!!!!

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Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.

I drink.

LOL

No, but really...if we end of shift didn't happen at 1100p and someone was available to be the 'des'? We'd all be boozing it up at iHop (do they serve liquor?)

- I take one shift at a time. My coworker always starts the countdown. Every single shift. "8 more hours." *grabs temples and sighs* "Almost lunch. 13 more hours to go." LOL

- I'm pretty good at leaving work at work.

Have I helped anyone? I don't know. I do what I can and try to do it with a smile. I make special attempts to put myself in their shoes. But, I'm slowly burning out where psych nursing is concerned. We're not a true psych facility. We're geri-psych and a non-restraint facility. So everyone just runs wild (literally) and we 'do our best' to make it through sun-downing.

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"Lets go Nurses!!!!!"

I see the encouragement continues.

Psych nursing is what you make of it. Are we ever going to see someone cured of Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia , or the dreaded Borderline disorder.. NO.

What we do is support the patient, keep them safe during a crises, and hopefully teach them some coping skills.

I coped using my sense of humor, and watching the movie K-Pax PRN.

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You are right MedChica leave work at work and not take it home. Sundowning is a very tough one. Girl that shift is hard. Am on day shift and though they are manic, some violent at night when most don't sleep will be hard.

Good job lady.

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Hi K-Pax you are right it might never be cured but one of the biggest things we do include your point on safety. All through my shift it looks like safety is what we do. But l think when we empower our patients we are also doing a great thing. I went to a group home to a traning for their staff and guess what!!??? One of them was a patient that i took care of in my hospital. Girl i was like a proud mama. So empowering them is a great thing.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

The key is to take it a shift at a time--focus on what's going on right now. Also, a degree of flexibiltiy is necessary, because you never know what's going to happen. Psych can be delightfullly unpredictable, and you can't let youself become complacement.

My sense of humor is what keeps me sane. You really need to have one to thrive in psych.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

I worked in a state psych hospital for years and I learned some things along the way.

Don't turn your back on a patient -- EVER!

Make sure you eat and drink enough to stay hydrated and energized every shift. It can be a protein drink, a Slimfast, a baggie of cut up veggies, fruits, and/or cheese that you eat on the fly. Even a baggie of Cheerios counts!

Take time to go to the john at least once.

Make a quick list at the beginning of your shift of new patients and their foibles but don't use names. I reversed their initials.

Make a mental note of patients you've already worked with and of any meltdowns or issues they've had since your last shift.

Don't allow yourself to be charmed by any patients, be it someone who reminds you of your grandma or your first boyfriend.

LOLs can be adorable at times which can disguise some very serious issues.

Use the drive home to decompress. Listen to an audiobook, wild LOUD music or soft classical music, depending on which mood you're in when you leave.

When I followed my rules, I arrived home humming or singing folk songs, songs from biker movies, or sometimes with various classical works still playing in my head.

A definite improvement over thinking or telling my husband, "ALL men are absolute ********!" on the way in the door.

ETA: If you can't keep your sense of humor and the ability to see the funny side of things as well as the absolutely absurd, you won't make it.

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Specializes in Psych and Antepartum.

I feel the most satisfied with a day's work when I was able to take the time to sit down with a patient (10-15 min usually) and really listen to them, especially with children and adolescents. So often the kids will ask "Can I talk to you?" and I'll find out they have absolutely no one in their lives who take the time to listen to them. One adolescent girl told me she was cutting herself just to get someone to finally pay any bit of attention to her. How heartbreaking is that? Psych nursing is incredibly busy, especially during the day, but when I'm able to really sit with the patients and give them my full attention, I feel like I made a difference.

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Thanks for this post. A good sense of humor can make a 12 hr shift not just go fast but less draning. Yes! It can be a good tool having in mind that some patients are very trying.

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Hi Sharpiemom i laughed when i read about the ride home. I now love my 37 mins ride home so much. I look forward to it at the end of my day. You'er right not to turn your back on patients, our patients can't be predicted. Its good to be familiar

with our patients but not too familiar.

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.

I've been a RN for a couple of years and am a year out from becoming a psych NP. I love that program and have learned a lot about the psych provider role, yet I have never worked as a psych RN.

I just interviewed for a psych position and learned that they are "desparate" for second shift staff due to high turnover. I also was given a great impression that staff are grossly overworked and very undersupported. I was offered the job.

From the above, I'm pretty sure I don't want it. There are some other elements to it that make me not want it as well. Actually, I don't know why I wrote this because it dawned on me that I'm not taking it, lol.

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I take a lot from moment to moment. What is best at this moment? Eventually moments lead to hours and days lead to years. My years have shown me it is important to laugh with others, sing softly when the sun sets, dance like a fool and encourage others to do so too. (Shake it out!) Enjoy a smile or wink back at you because you don't know when the next moment may be filled with a moment you don't wish to remember.

It can be unpredictable, yet its the moments that keep me coming back.

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