How is it like to be a Psych Nurse..

[blessedbelle]

Is it fun? Is it a challenging, remarkable experience or whatever it may be..

Cause, I am taking this to my consideration. I am a student nurse, and psychiatric nursing seems really interesting to me.

Well if your a psychiatric nurse or just have worked in a mental institution, I am very interested to know your experience.. thanks.. ;)

[aterry1]

:nurse:I have only worked in Psych and I love it. I have worked in an inpatient hospital, an outptient mental health clinic, and now in the ER with a unit specifically for psych. I still love it. It is so much different than providing nursing care to those with physical health problems. It takes more than medications to help those with mental health problems; so even though a lot of times Med/Surge nurses make comments about Psych nurses doing it because they are either lazy or lack nursing skills, I completely disagree because I know I am making a difference.

How long have you been doing psych nursing for? After i upgrade my BIO, i will be 30 when I start my school and 32 when i finish. Is that to late to start? How old were you when you started taking schooling in this area?

[shortsheryl, BSN, RN, APRN, NP]

I started nursing school when I was 31 and graduated when I was 33. I felt so old, but it did not stop me. I was informed by my nursing instructor, during our clinicals at the state mental hospital, that I was an excellent candidate to work in psych. My instructor told me this when she saw how I handled my pt assignment. I am 4ft 11in and weigh about 115lbs; my pt was 6ft 4in and very psychotic but I was able to establish rapport within 10 mins of meeting him. I was also able to calm him when he was experiencing audio hallucinations. I loved that rotation and felt I fit right in. That's when my instructor set me up for an interview with the director of the mental health unit at our local hospital. I literally had the job before I graduated. Another thing, trust in yout instincts...you will know what area you fit in.

[PatMac10,RN, RN]

Can you give short term counseling as a Psych nurse that is not an APN? Most people I talk to in nursing school or nursing say they like psych. In fact my mom, a L&D RN is going back to a RN-MSN program and is working PRN on the Psych ward at her hospital. She says she likes it.

[shortsheryl, BSN, RN, APRN, NP]

I am not sure if I understand your question but I will try to answer it. Nurses cannot counsel but they can give education. As an advanced practice nurse, or MSN, you can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications but you still only provide education, not so much counseling. I hope that answers your question.

[PatMac10,RN, RN]

I am not sure if I understand your question but I will try to answer it. Nurses cannot counsel but they can give education. As an advanced practice nurse, or MSN, you can diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications but you still only provide education, not so much counseling. I hope that answers your question.

I think you pretty much answered it. I thought that a Psyshiatric Nurse Practitioner could give some sort of counseling as an APN. Thanks!

[shortsheryl, BSN, RN, APRN, NP]

In a nutshell, it is counseling, but as a nurse you would never call it that; it is called teaching as all nurses do.