Concerned about Daughter's Assignment

[imenid37]

My daughter is in psych clinicals right now. Her assignmnet in the a.m. is a HUGE schizophrenic guy who thinks he's Satan and acts out sexually to female pts. and staff. He has cornered several staff and is well-known to the police. My daughter is 19 yrs. old and under 5 feet tall. She told instructor she is a little worried about caring for this man. Instructor states "too bad, you won't choose your pts when you get out of school." Sounds like a line of bull to me. We weren't allowed to have very violent or manipulative pts. in psych. We weren't equipped to handle them, as our instructor said. She was not cutting us a break. She actually was known as the "worst" instructor. I think it was our school's unwritten policy. I can't believe this assignment. Maybe I am in a 1980's time warp, but I am really upset w/ this. Pt. has hx of lifestyle putting him at high risk of blood-borne diseases. and my daughter has to give him an injection. I know I just have to pray she is okay. I can't do anything else. I think the instructor just sounds like a real jerk. Have other students been given these type of pts.? (I hope he's in seclusion again tomorrow) There are lots of little geri-psych pts and non-violent schizo pts on this unit. As for the argument, that you get this when you are out of school, as an experienced nurse, if a new grad has a complicated pt or acting out family, I have their back or another experienced nurse does. They are not alone w/ dangerous pts. This is like giving the student a pt. in trauma triage in their critical care rotation.

[TREMT]

hi imenid37

[TREMT]

hi imenid37

this is going to sound really random but i read on a really old post that one of your daughters attented tju nursing program at geisinger campus. and i was wondering if you knew if there is housing available there. i live in south jersey and i plan to apply to their program but its only available at the geisinger campus now (3 hours away).

thanks for your time:)

[Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN]

SAFETY FIRST. Period.

This is a "deal killer" and must be brought to the top brass of the school & program and review the issues along behaviors of the instructor - there is NO rational excuse for deliberately putting a student in jeopardy. This - "well, it is like real nursing - no choices, no exceptions" is simply insane and untrue. I am a real nurse and I would never knowingly put myself/patient in a dangerous or risky situation. I would call the calvary, security, MD, everyone - anyone and even medicate to the point of chemical restraint is necessary - but, willingly become a victim with no "choices" - not gonna happen.

Your daughter is a STUDENT and I think that this will be an unfortunate, but necessary lesson in advocacy. Luckily she has you to help guide her.

No question - this must be resolved. And if there is any "blow back" - it needs to be openly discussed that retrbution from this instructor toward your daughter will have consequences.

Nursing Instructor are still subject to the BON of their state - and when their judgement puts students and patients at risk - a valid complaint does exist.

Good LUCK!

[BluegrassRN]

This thread is from 2007....

[diane227, LPN, RN]

When I was in my psych rotation many years ago I had a similar situation but we had very strict guidelines. We were not to be alone with these patient and we could not go into a private, unsupervised area with them. We had to remain in the group area. What are her guidelines? What are her movement restrictions in regard to her interaction with this patient? I see the situation a bit differently I guess. As long as she is in a group area with other patients and staff in line of site of the psych techs and staff, I think it would be an appropriate assignment.