Intake Nurse

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Anyone an intake nurse or ever been one

it looks really fun and rewarding. My idea of Psych nursing is one of the intake nurse, but I bet there are other areas where psych nurses work.

What are you thoughts about intake nursing? what is the be all end all position if one is a psychiatric nurse.

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Specializes in psychiatric nursing.

I don't do intake, I work as a charge RN at an inpatient facility. I think at least our intake RNs have a MUCH easier job then the unit RN charge nurses. Much less stress and no constant problems caused by under staffing on the unit. At my facility, they don't hire intake RNs unless they already have experience as a charge nurse on a unit.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
At my facility, they don't hire intake RNs unless they already have experience as a charge nurse on a unit.

I agree--experience is a must for intake because you're the one doing the initial assessment of the patient. You need that experience and knowledge to evaluate them and help determine their ultimate placement.

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Specializes in Addictions/Mental Health, Telemetry.

I am a psychiatric intake nurse! I work in a very busy ER that receives a fair number of involuntary as well as voluntary admissions for psych. It is our job to review all the clinical information gathered on the patient and make recommendations for admission or referrals out to the community. It is very important to have a solid med/surg background. Many times I or my colleagues have had to question a patient's medical clearance, which we discuss with our psychiatrist on-call via telephone. Working in a very busy ER, one must be confident in one's abilities, as the ER nurses can be brutal (sorry!)

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I am a psychiatric intake nurse! I work in a very busy ER that receives a fair number of involuntary as well as voluntary admissions for psych. It is our job to review all the clinical information gathered on the patient and make recommendations for admission or referrals out to the community. It is very important to have a solid med/surg background. Many times I or my colleagues have had to question a patient's medical clearance, which we discuss with our psychiatrist on-call via telephone. Working in a very busy ER, one must be confident in one's abilities, as the ER nurses can be brutal (sorry!)

sounds stressful, but also very interesting. COOL!

I bet ER nurses see everything.

I think the video posted in the school I'm thinking of enrolling makes it kind of rosy, but I know it's probably harder than what is depicted.

I inquire lots about this field, I don't want to enroll into the program without knowing what I'm getting into. I went to an info session and currently volunteer in a mental health setting, I have never done the personal care aspect though.

My Dad and other people I have met have though.

Also seen it too, not pretty.

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I work intake now i work in a dedicated psych facility which makes it easier in some ways. Less concerns about having patients pushed on you prior to being medically safe due to shortness of beds or staff in the er. It can be interesting at times like others have said you are one on one with the patient and play a big big role in deciding there placement however it can also give you a chance to offer a lot to the patients physical and mental wellbeing i personally love it.

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I work intake now i work in a dedicated psych facility which makes it easier in some ways. Less concerns about having patients pushed on you prior to being medically safe due to shortness of beds or staff in the er. It can be interesting at times like others have said you are one on one with the patient and play a big big role in deciding there placement however it can also give you a chance to offer a lot to the patients physical and mental wellbeing i personally love it.

Do you think psychiatric nursing can be violent, is ther daily violence???

or does this depend on the type of units???

also is there room for counselling patients??

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It can be violent at times. Intake can be a bit more violent due to not knowing the patients as much as say a floor nurse knows their patients so it is harder for us to avoid triggers etc. That being said we probably restrain 1 to 2 times a shift depending on the day some more some less when i say restrain i mean full on 4point restraints or im sedation. We give oral meds to calm patients probably another 2 to 3 times a day for various reasons. You do have a chance to counsel as well depending on how busy you are etc.

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I did both inpatient and intake at our ER. I thought intake was very busy some days we were 10-15 patients backed up in ER you see them at the tip of crisis so it can be very crazy with drunks and drug users. I don't think intake was easy at all! You always had to have your guard up so you wouldn't get hurt!!

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It can be violent at times. Intake can be a bit more violent due to not knowing the patients as much as say a floor nurse knows their patients so it is harder for us to avoid triggers etc. That being said we probably restrain 1 to 2 times a shift depending on the day some more some less when i say restrain i mean full on 4point restraints or im sedation. We give oral meds to calm patients probably another 2 to 3 times a day for various reasons. You do have a chance to counsel as well depending on how busy you are etc.

does restrain mean like a takedown in nursing?

like in police judo they taught us how to take someone down without having to punch them in the face or seriously hurt them.

i think it's called a judo throw.

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Would you consider a social work aspect of psych? It would offer the counseling and not as much of the physical interactions that you may be seeking. You would also be able to make a decent earning, work in a hospital setting, counsel/interact with patients/family and have flexible hours.

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Would you consider a social work aspect of psych? It would offer the counseling and not as much of the physical interactions that you may be seeking. You would also be able to make a decent earning, work in a hospital setting, counsel/interact with patients/family and have flexible hours.

I totally have considered it, but I would need a MSW for psychiatric social work.

I'm not seeking violence, I kind of want to avoid it. I say kind of because I'm aware sometimes that stuff happens.

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