I was told that Psych Nursing is "too depressing"...

Specialties Psychiatric

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Hi everyone!

I am about to start school to become an RN and I am looking into some of the specialties I am attracted to. Psych nursing is one of them. I used to be a special ed teacher, and while many of my students were crazy (literally and/or figuratively) and drove me up a wall, it was generally a good time and I loved working with them. Also, I have considered some sort of mental health schooling in the past (counselor or psychologist), but obviously passed those ideas on for nusring. But anyway these are some of the things that led me to think I could enjoy psych nursing.

I mentioned it to a nurse I know (who currently works in a Doctor's Office, but used to work a floor in a hospital, don't know which one), and she warned me not to go into psych nursing. "It's too depressing," she said. "You can't really do anything to help those people, and it can be very sad."

I would like to hear the other opinions! Thank you!:)

Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

Holistic in that health is bio-psycho-socio-spiritual. Typically, one thing does not cause illness, but several risk factors together that pushes that person over his/her threshold.

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IMHO - If you feel drawn to psych nursing, give it a try. I was afraid that it would be too scary or too sad, sometimes it certainly can be some of those things. I work on a child psych unit, ages 4-12. Some of the things these kids have done or have had done to them are horrifying, but the chance to make a difference for them is worth it. Sure, they scream cursewords at you and kick/bite/hit and slam doors sometimes. The times when they say "thanks", ask for PO meds before escalating to the point of needing an IM, or use their new coping skills for the first time all but cancel that out. Yes, it can be very difficult, but it can be very rewarding as well. I've learned the importance of patience and being even-tempered among many skills I will be able to use when I have children of my own. Plus, last weekend I was informed by one of my patients that I was "the best nurse in the galaxy". If you have a tendency to be more interested in talking to your patients than hooking up their IV and watching their monitors, if you are a "good listener", then you might really enjoy working in psych. :twocents:

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Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.

to me med-surg is too depressing !!!! everyone in bed, hooked up, some not doing so well, etc. etc.....

Psych can be challenging, admitting a new pt. that cannot stop crying, and then after 20 min getting her to smile/laugh, admitting pts. that are almost catatonic then with the right meds and CBT you can hold a conversation with them after a few days....Yes we have some depressing stories but we also have some very good times, too....we laugh a lot and I just love it !! Go for it....you will find out soon enough if it is for you or not....

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Specializes in Mental Health.
Depressing?! Definitely not psych, maybe oncology or hospice. Never a dull moment in psych

I agree, experience has taught me that hospice is one of the most depressing areas of nursing...I have not worked in a oncology unit...but I can imagine what it must be like...psych patients will keep you on your toes and some are not as bad as others...they can be amusing at times.:clown:

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Specializes in psych, ltc, case management.

I had an experience in school last friday that I thought might be appropriate for this thread.

I am currently on the neuro/stroke floor of our hospital, but last week I was assigned to a pt who really belonged in psych (she had MS though). She was 40 years old, on several heavy duty drugs and had drug seeking behavior. Supposedly she has seizures that are non-convulsive, but nobody has ever seen them. She actually explained it to me by saying her seizures are "in her head". :icon_roll She was caught smoking in the bathroom twice, and had a jerry springer moment with her 90 year old roommate. During her fight, the RN refused to call security for her so my pt called the police directly! She was ready to get up discharge herself, but I managed to calm her down and make her smile. We ended up moving her room, and when I left for the day she asked for a kiss on the cheek and thanked me.

All of my classmates came up to me after saying "wow, how did you deal with that?!" But I laughed and said it was definately better than cleaning bed pans.

The experience was crazy, but I actually had a lot more fun than I have in clinicals so far. It made me think again that maybe psych nursing is for me after all...

Oh well, time will tell. I have my psych rotation this May!

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