Does psych nursing affect ur home life?

[ProgressiveThinking]

I've been a tele nurse for a few years, and I want change. I'm considering doing psych as a loved it in school. I'll keep a PRN tele position to keep my skills up, so that's not a concern. My concern is the affect that psych has on your home life. Everyone jokes around saying that psych nurses eventually blend in with the patients. Is there truth to this? Does psych bring out the craziness in you? Has psych changed the way you act with friends and loved ones?

[supernurse109]

Sounds to me..... like it wasn't for you then........

[supernurse109]

Honestly... My mother before me was a mental health nurse, any flaws that she had was not down to her profession but to her previous life experiences. I too have followed in her footsteps, and whilst I will not disagree that you do need to be at least "open minded" to do the job, It actually enhances daily skills to deal with family and life.......... You do need to be able to leave the work behind at most times, but that is true of any job is it not.....? x

I have done this job for 26 yrs now and whist my friends and family may think im a little crazy..... they prob thought that 26 yrs ago too......... x

[rnhooch]

I chose psych because I know we are all just one natural disaster, job loss, divorce, or blow to the head away from being psych patients ourselves. I have always routed for the underdogs, the sad, the misunderstood freaky people...They all want the same things I want. I want to be accepted, loved, heard, and respected. I love my job and would not trade it for anything at this point in my life.

Edited to add...I don't think it has changed anything in my home life. I have always been a little nutty. My husband and family are okay with it. In a way I think it has helped me to not sweat the small stuff in life. I pick my battles now. Life is too short and when I think I have it bad, I can now see that there are many other people who have it a lot worse.

[resilientnurse]

Working in psychiatric/mental health does affect my family life only in the sense that I worry about my children and their development, so much more as opposed to when I worked Med/Surg, because I see first hand the distrastrous consequences of poor parenting and unstable environments in my patient population. It's almost like a social recipe. On the other hand, it does simultaneously provide some solace, just a little, in the efforts and sacrifices my husband and I make.

Funny thing is, psych nursing was the very last thing I wanted to do. However, it has strengthened my character and tolerance of others. I am a better listener. My tools are my words, questions and responses to you. It is not always what you say, but what you don't that interests me. My teenage daughter says: "Mom, do you realize that you are asking me the same question only a million different ways?"

Additionally, I am amazed at how we, in psych, still have not heard that last story yet. There is always one that manages to slip in and blow your mind even still. "I have heard it all" is simply not in my verbal repertoire. Yet, we have heard enough that enables us to lend an automatic normal, non-judgemental response that can help our patients gain some measure of empathy on their road to safer places.

I have to echo another poster in that working Med/Surg definitely wreaked havoc on my family life the most as far as negative impacts go; working nights, being mandated to work over in the morning, working holidays, and the psychological wear and tear it took on my body and psyche. I hated my job and that disdain no doubt accompanied me home after every shift. For some reason, albeit good, my psych work does not follow me home. I leave it right at the office along with the Cymbalta and Saphris.

[_nursemarjorie, BSN, RN]

Psych nursing has made me a better person & continues to make me stronger. I quickly realized that we are all just 1 or 2 events away from being a patient ourselves - everyone has something that will break them. I once prayed to God to help me with learning patience -- & then I got a barrage of true Borderline personalities + Bipolars in a 2 week string. Careful what you wish for. Psych follows me at home - dealing with my husband family & friends --- I am able to cope better, & I now can walk with confidence knowing everyone has something. I hope that Psych nursing will help you too. A lot of raw nerves shown to me about myself - I see myself in each patient, who I am, who I could have been, who I fear of becoming - but understanding that is what makes me able to help them the best I can. I pray for them all on my way to work, ask for guidance in prayers during my shift & when I leave, I go home & sleep well. I hope you will be able to do that --- it is different for everyone.[/quote']

love this!