I would like some advice

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Hello everyone,

I am wanting to ask a question about mental health nursing. I have been offered a chance to work with mental health patients as a charge nurse on a 10 bed unit. I will be the only nurse and have two mental health techs. It is a new stabilization unit. I have no psych experience except for the few resident that you get in LTC with behaviors. I am wanting to know if it is hard to work with mental health patients. I know that the facility provides training and a 5 day floor orientation. Although I will be the only nurse on the unit, I will not be the only nurse in the facility there is another unit with 3 nurses. I also have the option to take a PRN position but I will not be eligible for benefits. I was going to take the PRN position and get a feel for it and then take the charge position but there is no garantee that it will be available. I can work days or nights doing the charge nurse positon....what do you guys think? Oh yeah the pay for the charge nurse position is 19.59/hr for days and 23.59/hr for nights. The PRN is at 24/hr with extra for shift diffs. Keep in mind I have no experience but is that the right pay for a position like that. I live in Florida. Towanna:uhoh21:

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It depends on your personality, and also the type of PT in those 10 beds. With 30 yrs of PSYCH experience, and 10 as only nurse on 24 bed lock down unit (had ALOT of good tech's though), if it was a CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY unit, i'd fall on my face.

SO it depends really on the type of pt's your accepting. IF it wasn't a CD unit, I'd think I'd died and gone to heaven as 10 beds is Low pt's census for me. IF they are really combative,hallucinating, and off meds, you could be in for a bit of trouble with only two tech's. IF they already half-way treated and not combative, or likely to be, could be good unit for you to get your feet wet. Orientation will tell you all of this, and then go with your gut!

GOOD LUCK,

Houstonnurse

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It depends on your personality, and also the type of PT in those 10 beds. With 30 yrs of PSYCH experience, and 10 as only nurse on 24 bed lock down unit (had ALOT of good tech's though), if it was a CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY unit, i'd fall on my face.

SO it depends really on the type of pt's your accepting. IF it wasn't a CD unit, I'd think I'd died and gone to heaven as 10 beds is Low pt's census for me. IF they are really combative,hallucinating, and off meds, you could be in for a bit of trouble with only two tech's. IF they already half-way treated and not combative, or likely to be, could be good unit for you to get your feet wet. Orientation will tell you all of this, and then go with your gut!

GOOD LUCK,

Houstonnurse

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HI sorry for my ignorance but I am currently a second year

mental health/psych student nurse in the UK and when reading these post do not understand the abbreviations used to describe job titles in the USA, can anyone help me out? :uhoh21:

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HI sorry for my ignorance but I am currently a second year

mental health/psych student nurse in the UK and when reading these post do not understand the abbreviations used to describe job titles in the USA, can anyone help me out? :uhoh21:

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HI sorry for my ignorance but I am currently a second year

mental health/psych student nurse in the UK and when reading these post do not understand the abbreviations used to describe job titles in the USA, can anyone help me out?

Sure, sam -- which abbreviations are you wondering about?

Welcome to allnurses!

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HI sorry for my ignorance but I am currently a second year

mental health/psych student nurse in the UK and when reading these post do not understand the abbreviations used to describe job titles in the USA, can anyone help me out?

Sure, sam -- which abbreviations are you wondering about?

Welcome to allnurses!

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Cheers for this, some of the more commonly seen abbreviations are these LPN, NP, PRN, not sure what they are as in the UK we have RMHN (Registered Mental Health Nurse) RGN (Registered General Nurse) and NA (Nursing Assistants or health care assistants) PRN is used to describe medication which is prescribed to be used when required and/or necessary. These are just a few that I can think of off the top of my head but I'm quite sure theres loads more. Got to go now though as I'm supposed to be preparing a presentation for tomorrow. :crying2: and will never get it done at this rate. :rolleyes:

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All I can give you is what I did. I went to a State Mental Health Hospital from working in the ER for 7yrs. Fortunately I kept on as PRN. I worked in geri/psych as well as the infirmary. I lasted all of 15 months. I totally disagree with the way they were treated. The way they were medicated. All the extra paper work and the general knowledge of the MD's that were on staff there. Psych pts especially those in the system can be very smart...cunning...and dangerous. With you as the only RN..that means you will be in charge and also responsible for meds and the like. Ten pts doesnt sound like much but that can be more than a whole unit of 36 LTC pts.......if things go bad. But this is just my 2 cents worth....I had wanted to find a "good state" job and retire there but My conscience would not let me...GOOD LUCK

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All I can give you is what I did. I went to a State Mental Health Hospital from working in the ER for 7yrs. Fortunately I kept on as PRN. I worked in geri/psych as well as the infirmary. I lasted all of 15 months. I totally disagree with the way they were treated. The way they were medicated. All the extra paper work and the general knowledge of the MD's that were on staff there. Psych pts especially those in the system can be very smart...cunning...and dangerous. With you as the only RN..that means you will be in charge and also responsible for meds and the like. Ten pts doesnt sound like much but that can be more than a whole unit of 36 LTC pts.......if things go bad. But this is just my 2 cents worth....I had wanted to find a "good state" job and retire there but My conscience would not let me...GOOD LUCK

Thanks for the advice....I think that I will except a PRN positon to get my feet wet..

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I can't imagine hiring a nurse with no psych experience to be the only nurse on ANY kind of stabilization unit. While there are many patients in LTC with psych issues, working on a psych unit is still quite different. I think you're being wise to turn down the position. As PRN will you still be the only nurse on the unit or is that position with a different unit--one where you could work with other psych nurses while you are learning the ropes? Orientation just isn't enough. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

sam: LPN=licensed practical nurse, usually a one year or 18 month course (I think--feel free to correct me if I'm wrong). You may also see LVN which is licensed vocational nurse.

NP=nurse practitioner or advanced registered nurse practition or advanced practice registered nurse--a post-graduate degree required in most cases.

PRN= hhmmm, I'm not sure exactly what it stands for, but it's a position where a nurse is scheduled to work when and if needed (like a PRN med is given on a "need" basis). The rate of hourly pay is usually higher than for a regular position, but there are no benefits and no guarantee of hours. If the census is low, the PRN nurse is usually the first to go. Sometimes called "registry."

BSN=bachelor of science in nursing degree; usually a 4 year degree

MSN=master's degree in nursing; post-graduate, usually 2 years (unless you're like me and drag it out longer)

Does that help?

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