Curious about psych nursing

creamyitalian · Jul 29, 2011

It really depends on the hospital. I work at a psychiatric hospital that really does nothing medical, pts are sent out to the ER of a nearby medical hospital to be cleared or to be seen for a medical problem that pops up. Then there are medical hospitals that have pysch units so there is the possibility that you would be taking care of more medical problems, dealing with IVs, etc.

So back to my hospital, there are usually 2-3 RNs on each unit of 20-30 pts. We use team nursing now so while one nurse is charge, meds are assigned evenly. Each nurse has a mental health worker on their team, and in the geri unit the MHW is a CNA as well. There is very little poop outside of the geri unit, but you will run across patients who are so sick and disorganized that they cannot care for themselves adequately. You wont be wiping ass all day but you may have to assist with some ADLs once in a while.

A typical day shift consists of passing meds, going to treatment team (where you discuss your patients with the md and social workers), discharges, admissions, conversing with patients, and maintaining the milieu. Situations will always come up where a patient needs to be deescalated, and if it comes to it, restrained, secluded, and medicated. It can get busy, but at my hospital there is much less running around than if you had 6-8 pts on a med-surg floor.

The patients are expected to meet with their doctor, go to groups, be compliant with meds, interact with other pts and staff, eat meals on time, have visitors, and occupy themselves with other things during the day like exercise, arts and crafts, fresh air walks, TV, etc.

If you have any other questions, don't hestate to ask.

Josh

Yosemite, RN, ASN, EMT-I · Jul 31, 2011

I would agree with Creamyitalian, generally. Of the two facilities I've worked for (private "for profit" and a county facility) both were chaotic, hectic, dangerous. My days were spent desperately trying to discharge clients, trying to interact/interview so I could chart, treatment team meetings, intervening in disputes/arguments and sometimes fights, participating in violent "codes" for seclusion and restraints, covering breaks, running to the bathroom when I just couldn't hold it anymore. Multitude of phone calls from family members, trying to write performance reviews, deal with fire drills, admissions. At night, it was as bad or worse... violence with fewer staff members to help, admissions while covering breaks and dealing with clients who were awake and intrusive, wandering into others' rooms, manic clients turning on lights and trying to wake everyone and the fallout from that. Dealing with staff who don't show up and working a floor by myself all night. From either shift: holding back the tears of stress and frustration, and relief at the end of the shift.

creamyitalian · Jul 31, 2011

Yosemite, you need to come work at my hospital...you will be much happier and less stressed!!!