3 hot's and a cot

If any nurse has uneasy feelings about any particular presentation of a patient, I defend his/her right to have them. That aside, I don't think there is a person here who doesn't strive to offer the best care possible in spite of those feelings. I hope this is understood.

We come here to be honest with our anonymity intact. It's a safe place to vent. I don't want to be shamed for doing so when it is done within the TOS. It is not therapeutic. It is not appreciated. It ceases to be merely an opinion when it is directed at someone. I hope this is understood too and respected.

Having read the posts in this thread there are 2 distinct points being made 1) the frustration at people, while having no treatable mental illness are using mental health facilities to avoid an uncomfortable life, or criminal conviction, and 2) that along with the people who are exploiting the system come those who have a genuine need for treatment and are very very hard to distinguish from the manipulators.

Both issues are real in modern healthcare, regardless of state, or country.

But I would like to add a few points:

It is a well researched fact that a huge chunk of the 'mentally ill' have poor health, poor socioeconomic status and often live itinerant lifestyles.

People with personality disorders, even anti-social personality disorders, are in mental distress. That does not mean they can be helped, or that they want help, but some aspect of their pathology/past is maladaptive (abusive family etc).

I personally find when approaching this group the easiest thing to do is try and meet some basic needs, at the same time testing receptiveness to some sort of therapy.

Key things I guess are not to get into the 'florence nightingale' mode and think you can 'save' people, and conversly not to be hostile or dismissive, just in case you do miss the acute crisis buried under a few weeks of filth.

All the best.

StuPer

Thanks, StuPer. I do agree that one should feel free to express ones frustrations here. I also believe that the other side of the conversation should be expressed and accepted as an alternative or adjunct to current expressed positions. Thank you again for bringing data to the table. nanacarol

i also believe that the other side of the conversation should be expressed and accepted as an alternative or adjunct to current expressed positions.

true, but there is no need to "preach to the choir" about presentations of the mentally ill. while you are obviously a caring and educated nurse, it it also true that there are abusive, selfish, and even sociopathic abusers out there, and it's frustrating as he## to have to deal with them. let everyone vent, so that they are able to go in tomorrow and not have the urge to kill the next malingering coke-head who is on her call-bell for more drugs and ice cream!!