Child/Adolescent vs. Adult

Jules A, MSN · Jul 27, 2010

I love the adolescent males even though they are more combative, impulsive and have an assortment of behavioral issues along with some true mental illness. Adults are more low key in general and I don't have as much hope for their future but seeing the variety of diagnoses and severity of illnesses is so interesting. Both populations are great.

Davey Do · Jul 28, 2010

Just wondering, for those of you who have done both, which population (child/adolescent vs. adult) do you find easier to work with?

Nurse JJ09:

Do you mean more easily tolerated? Less maintenance? More likely to be steered toward a therapeutic goal?

Adults are easier. Individuals who have some sort of concept of boundaries can be dealt with more easily by approaching a situation utilizing logic. Social mores are not as deeply ingrained in young minds. Their perception of mores, values, sanctions, and ramifications are much more murky.

Both populations have their assets and liabilities. Working with either population has common denominators when it comes to intervening in a situation due to inappropriate behavior: They both need to know that someone IS in charge. They also need to know that there are ramifications of inappropriate behavior and someone will have to deal with the consequences.

Of course, I'm relating from experiences of needing to deal with aberrant behavior. As far as general professional interactions, I especially like the geriatric (Older Adult) population. Although sometimes just as demanding of one's energies as the other populations, I have a special respect and admiration for them. The Older Adult population have as many Mental Health diagnosis as the younger population. However, they also have coupled with the axis I such conditions as dementia, Alzheimer's, and an array of medical areas of concern. Very challenging.

It's really special to read of a couple of peers who hold such an interest in this population of patients.

Best to both you, Nurse JJ09 and Jules A.

Dave

iwanna · Aug 16, 2010

I worked in a psychiatric hospital. I worked on all of the units. My favorite was adults, and I preferred the geri pts. as well. Although, the geriatric patients were more physically demanding, I enjoyed that type of work. I preferred the adults, as the adolescents and children were more of "behavior" issues. I preferred the acute adolescents over the residential. And, when I worked residential, I preferred the males, as they were more respectful than the females. My least favorite was the childrens unit. At times, I felt like a glorified babysitter. It was a tough unit and the saddest of all. Most of these children came from such pitiful backgrounds and experienced such emotional trauma. However, with all of that said, each unit had its pros and cons.

When I first started, I hated the job. It was such a culture shock to me. I did not intend on staying there, as I hated the job very much. I had a knot in my stomach before going into work. However, after 3 months it got easier, then after 6 months, I decided this job was a keeper(on my part, anyways) for a while. I would have stayed there longer if it wasn't for my health. I worked there for 4 years.

elkpark · Aug 16, 2010

I much prefer working with kids, although it can be quite a bit more emotionally draining/demanding than working with adults.

Meraki · Aug 17, 2010

It really comes down to personal preference, in many ways child is very different from adolescent and both are very different from adult. (I've never worked geri).

I don't enjoy adult psych at all. For me chronic mental illness and decades of life traumas and suffering completely wears people down and it shows in their face, in their walk, in their words. When I worked adult, I often felt as though I wasn't sure what we were working towards other than safety and a basic level of functioning. For me that was hard - I wanted more hope, more possibility of getting better. For many of the patients, the spark in their eye was gone. I found it really depressing.

When I worked child, the traumas and dysfunction and chaos these kids had endured was emotionally draining. They didn't have the ability to really process it, they didn't understand it, so most of their pain and trauma and confusion was expressed behaviorally - really the only way they knew how. The externalized or difficult behaviors often led to people in their lives being hard on them/punishing them/excluding them/scapegoating them and I found this hard as well.

So for me adolescents are the 'easiest'! They and I click - they have a voice, they can express themselves (art, music, words) etc... and the majority of them, even the most depressed still have a spark. Also many of the the traumatized/chaotic life kids have fight in them and I love that - yes it is hard to deal with from a behavior standpoint but I see it as life and being a survivor and not giving up. I understand their defiance, their belligerence, their oppositionality, their bravado as the best coping mechanism they have..and truly I'd rather they fight than quit. And while some will go on to be chronically mentally ill, many more will heal at least to some degree.

So I really think it is personal and thankfully we all find our niche in different places - across all ages.

NCindasun21 · Aug 17, 2010

I can totally relate to everything wherehastimegone said.

I work in acute and I'll take the kids over adults any day. The kids are exhausting, to be sure. You are on the go from the time you step on the floor. But I love them. Especially the boys. Some of the roughest kids, the ones you would cross the street from, will break down and let you see who they really are if you give them time.

I find the adults in acute to be needy, conniving, and med seeking (esp pain meds). They watch the clock and are at your window 1 minute before their next dose is due!

I've never worked in LTC so things may be much different there. But for me...bring on the kids.