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.

[Blackcat99]

I use to work in state psychiatric hospitals. A lot of the staff were injured by patients. I had a patient throw a chair at me but it missed. Another patient lunged towards me to attack but she slipped and fell instead. Another patient grabbed me by my hair and dragged me around for awhile. I knew a male coworker who got his ear bitten off by a patient. I knew a female coworker who got a " very pronounced permanent limp" after being attacked by a female patient. I would never ever:no: work in a state psychiatric hospital again. I feel I am very lucky to have gotten out before I too got a permanent disability or gotten myself killed.

[kiwipsychnurse]

10 years and only been punched twice. Nothing serious. You get more injured playing soccer or rugby. Also Nurse to patient ratio is big factor IMO.

[FFN BehUnitMgr]

I have worked with psych patients for years. I have ONE permanent scar (my fault). There have been many "situations" at my facility. I believe in approach and technique (altough not always). All the employee's at my facility are CPI trained and that helps greatly when working with the mentally ill. Personal space plays a HUGE role. I 100% agree with keeping your self between the door and the patient/resident! We have had employee's get injured, and on occasion, I have to admit, it may have been the staff members fault. Be very aware of your surroundings!