Child Psych vs Adult Psych. Which is more demanding?

sharpeimom · Jun 26, 2014

I wax an adult (and occasional upper teen) psych nurse for over twenty years, and I'd say child and early adolescent psych is harder

My husband teaches on the college level and says that's his favorite age.

PG2018 · Jun 27, 2014

I have an exceptionally small base of experience working with kids, but I'll say I think they're the hardest. The autistics and ADHD kids that you cannot communicate anything to make me even want to self-injure, i.e. jump out a closed window and run away, lol. I'm used to adults with problems. Not an issue for me. That being said, the reason I have an office job is that I can't stand having patients up doing stuff on nursing units. I like control, quiet, etc. I'm fine one on one, but when I'm trying to do something at a nursing station and getting tons of outside calls coming, other healthcare folks wanting stuff, call lights, and patients roaming around....I hate life. Truth be told, I don't like anything inpatient.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 27, 2014

OP: you are right in that both specialties can be hard if the milieus are poorly managed.

Generally, I find working with the kids more taxing than working with the adults. With kids, not only are you dealing with psych issues, you're also dealing with normal childhood/teenage angst and growing pains.

macfar28 · Jun 29, 2014

I have done both and I find the pediatric end to be harder. As Meriwhen pointed out, you have the teenage oppositional flavor to deal with on top of whatever their current stressors are. Cutting is also so pervasive and I find many of the kids truly don't want to stop.

I also find it difficult in that the families are a large part of the problem. Even if you help your patient grow and make changes, you know you're sending them back into the same maladaptive environment. We tend to see the same kids over and over:(

On the flip side, there is more hope in that they are getting earlier intervention than many of the adults.

TerpGal02, ASN · Jul 5, 2014

I also find it difficult in that the families are a large part of the problem. Even if you help your patient grow and make changes, you know you're sending them back into the same maladaptive environment. We tend to see the same kids over and over:(

This. I once asked one of our docs, "seriously Dr. D, can you just tell Jimmys mom that she's a terrible mother?"

Plus I have found that 9 times out of 10, if I'm going to get hit, kicked, bit, scratched, or spit on, it's going to be by a child or adolescent. It's the whole lack of a fully developed prefrontal cortex thing. I will get cussed 6 times to Sunday by an adult, but rarely attacked. All that said C&A is still my fave.

Gentleman_nurse, MSN · Jul 5, 2014

This. I once asked one of our docs, "seriously Dr. D, can you just tell Jimmys mom that she's a terrible mother?"
Plus I have found that 9 times out of 10, if I'm going to get hit, kicked, bit, scratched, or spit on, it's going to be by a child or adolescent. It's the whole lack of a fully developed prefrontal cortex thing. I will get cussed 6 times to Sunday by an adult, but rarely attacked. All that said C&A is still my fave.

Seems like dealing with adults will be a breeze. I deal this behavior daily.

carterr · Jul 14, 2014

I have to agree with everyone else. I work currently with older teens, and you have to be prepared to deal with all the things that come with their youngness as well as their mental illnesses (Aggressiveness, immaturity, angst, less willing to cooperate etc). Though I do find it to be more hopeful as macfar28 mentioned, early intervention is so important and that's something common in child and adolescent units. You see a lot of people who've been dealing with their diseases for years in the adult ward and that can be disheartening.

I also find my unit is better for my size. I'm more on the petite size, and though I did ok when I worked in the adult unit, many of my current patients are closer in size to me which I do prefer.