How dangerous is Psych nursing?

[Asklepios]

I'm starting NS in September, so I'm spending the summer trying to learn about the different fields available and one thing that I wonder about with Psych nursing is how dangerous it is. Are you accompanied into rooms when you work with patients? How often do nurses get assaulted? Has serious injury resulted from attacks any of you have witnessed? How distracting is the potential for danger on your job?

I dated a girl who wound up checking herself into a facility for depression (no, I'm not that bad a date! She had issues before I met her that i found out about later). I visited her once and everyone seemed pretty laid back. The patients had access to a snack room for fruit and drinks during the day, and they spent most of their time in group sessions.

[dubstar]

Hi ,

i am just about to finish my pysch rotation and were encouraged to spend 1:1 time with pts. We were advised on OUR safety being priority, gave meds and we were allocated at least 3 pts per shift and if risk assessment was ok it was fine (if ok with pts) to enter their room.

[RanieRN, MSN, RN]

I've done psych nursing for 8 years now in a variety of settings--acute adult inpatient, residential, community, and now geropsych. The only setting I've been injured in any significant way is with my dementia patients. The combination of impulsiveness and inability to understand what it is we're doing to/for them often leads to combativeness; often, no matter how gentle and unthreatening we try to be.

[sampaul1966]

Worked in a secure hospital for 6 years & feel safer than working in an emergency room

[EarthChild1130]

I have been a nurse for 2 years...equal time in psych and med/surg, and I love psych...it's the reason I went to school...personally I feel safer on the mental health unit than on the med/surg unit because of the precautions taken both for my safety and for that of my patients (plus, I have the key to the door and every Joe Schmo can't just come walking down the hall when they feel like it LOL)...

I have only been in 1 or 2 situations where I really felt that I was in danger...my advice is to always be aware of your surroundings and know where your backup is! I love working mental health! :) Best of luck to you in school!

[NikkiRN_BSN]

I have worked in a state institution and a hospital inpatient psych unit. The state institution was flat out dangerous. That being said, I worked there several years and the only injury I sustained was a bite. As long as you are aware of your surroundings and are able to be consistent in your approach then you'll be fine. The hospital inpatient units around here are safer because they don't have to take the assaultive patients. Those patients either go directly to the state hospitals or are shipped there are soon as they become combative.

Keep in mind basic safety measures. Don't turn your back to your clients. If you're sitting in a dayroom keep your back to the wall to prevent someone from slipping behind you. Scan your environment frequently for potential safety issues. Be aware of an escalating patient and intervene immediately. Most importantly maintain a safe distance at all times. We had a nurse warned constantly that she was too close when talking to her patients. She finally got her nose broken.

[Mister Chris, MSN, NP]

I'm starting NS in September, so I'm spending the summer trying to learn about the different fields available and one thing that I wonder about with Psych nursing is how dangerous it is. Are you accompanied into rooms when you work with patients? How often do nurses get assaulted? Has serious injury resulted from attacks any of you have witnessed? How distracting is the potential for danger on your job?

I have worked in Psych nursing on and off since my training in psych in 1969 in UK and have found that the job usually is no more dangerous than being in a general hospital medical ward with so called "predictable" patients. I would say that in most psych units I have found that they are staffed pretty well and a large number of staff are trained and/or very experienced. I still (I'm over sixty) find I feel safer on a medium secure - high secure ward in the psychiatric hospital than the thursday, friday saturday night sessions I did in the local accident and emergency department of the general hospital!

Go talk to the staff running the ward when you start I would bet they will be very reasuring and look after you. Psychiatric patients are not all from the horror movies or even "one flew over the cuckoos nest" movie. (Just don't become a nurse Rachett!)

Good luck

Mister Chris RMN CN

(General patients are supposed to be predictable - but usually are very unpredictable! Psychiatric patients are supposed to be unpredictable - but are usually quite predictable because you always expect the worst - and the worst rarely happens!)

[smirn80]

just being aware of ur surrounding is the key. always have an exit or way out i suppose

[aaa rn, RN]

Having worked the psych setting for a couple of years, my advise is for any worker or student to be aware of your surroundings at all times--know your codes, know who is your back up, know your exits etc. I would say about 75 % of the time, the units were well secured and potential problems averted--However, the other 25 % could be a ride.

Most nursing sites / jobs encounter mental health issues--sometimes even among your peers--this rotation should be a great learning experience.

[Thanet]

I have worked in psychiatric wards for [mumble] years.

And despite the fact I could tell you many stories... I would rather work here all these years than in A&E (ER) on any Saturday night.

Our patients (clients) are risk assessed and all staff are warned of the potential trigger factors for each individual.

Not knowing what the risks are is the danger.

[sticknurse]

I worked psych in a facility once as an agency nurse. We had a key to lock ourselves in the nurses station. I was grabbed by the back of my head (by my hair) and had my head slammed against the door to the unit while returning after a break. A patient tried to rush the door and I was trying to close it while keeping him in. These were criminally ill clients if you know what I mean. They were REQUIRED to stay there. Anyway, my "backup" (two 19 year olds who collectively weighed probably 180 lbs.) eventually arrived. I chose not to return because I did notice once the fellow knew he could intimidate me he made sure to lunge at me and threaten me with every opportunity. Other psych units weren't so frightening. It can be dangerous at times.

[suespets]

I remember simply walking up to a res. in psych,asking why he hadn't eaten much supper. He dropped his tray & popped me in the nose, felt like my eye would fall out ,looking for blood. The supervisor quietly asked him what the matter was. he bowed his head,said he was sorry, when the super told him I was pregnant. I then realized what I hed been told when I took the job. keep an arms length away at all times. but really ,like what was said now a days ,on the strreet, you don't know what"sane person may wack u; your more alert to that fact in psych!!!!!!!!

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

Could be dangerous. Things happen fast.