Just started my first job in psych!! and disappointed!!

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Specializes in Psychiatric mental health.

I just started my first psych job here in Orlando, and I have to say...I am quite disappointed. Maybe its because I work the 3rd shift (11p-7a), but all I do here during my shift is paper work, paper work and more paper work. I get almost no hands on with any patients here. I basically just do admissions, and chart progress notes behind a desk all night. Is this typical for psych or is it just this facility??? FYI the facility Im working at is stricly just psych, and not part of a hospital like med psych or anything, so if they have any kind of medical condition that requires extra intervention, they are shipped out to a hospital. Someone pleeeeease lemme know what I got myself into!!!:typing

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7a to 7p, not much going on then either, basically just there to keep things n order, while everyone is about to go to bed, sleeping (that's what they do mostly) and waking up.

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I don't mean this to sound mean, but how much "hands on" did you expect on 11-7? People sleep at night, or at least we're hoping they're sleeping. I've worked psych for many years, and, in my experience, night shift tends to be "feast or famine" -- either everything's incredibly peaceful and quiet during the night, or all heck breaks loose; those seem to be the only two options.

Wait 'til you've had a few "!@#$ storm" nights, and you'll have more appreciation for boring paperwork. :)

If you want to have a lot of client contact, you'll need to move to another shift.

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Specializes in Psychiatric mental health.

I used to work nights in the ICU and there was still lots to do and ALOT of hands on with the patients so I guess I thought that would go for psych as well...but the slow pace is nice for a change!

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I used to work nights in the ICU and there was still lots to do and ALOT of hands on with the patients so I guess I thought that would go for psych as well...but the slow pace is nice for a change!

Yes, in med-surg settings, and esp. in ICUs, there are meds and VS, etc., during the night -- but psych is a lot more like "normal life" (at least, that's what we're aiming for :)) and people sleep at night. Night shift in psych is mostly paperwork, and if anything else is going on, it's probably something bad.

If you want to have the full psych experience and really develop your skills, you'll probably want to try another shift.

Best wishes!

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Specializes in Psych, Peds (C) LTC (C), L & D, Cardiac.

That sounds typical to me! I am on NOCs as well.

Day shift gets the treatment team, Doc visits (unless emergency) med students, labs...

We are a locked unit so very few patient's leave for other modalities (ECT, physical therapy, interviews with outpatient programs)

You CAN learn much as you want to... Get familiar with patients using the chart, new meds etc. You can learn a lot of interviewing techniques. What is a habit. What is an addiction. Won't they get addicted if I just give this prn whenever they ask. Can I really impact their care by this...

What contraband is & why (Patient Safety is our 1st priority) Pain assessment, pain reassessment... This is a recording...

I do remember that I was so excited to be in a new specialty. I then passed meds for 1 year straight on days. So, I feel you!!

I have learned a lot about other things... Restraint usage (The law and how to apply quickly and safely), how to speak in a "therapeutic" manner. I learned some things the hard way but believe me, I LEARNED!!

A lot depends on the other staff you work with as well.

Now--- "I got skills!!!" :smokin:

Good luck!!

Kathleen

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