Mental Health CNA

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Hi! So I am so excited, I finally got the courage to return to school. I am a 33 year old stay at home mom of 2 children, ages 8 and 4. I have been thinking about returning to school for the past 3 years and have finally did it. I am so scared, yet excited. So my first step of getting into nursing at my community college is i have to be certified as a Nurses Assistant, which is fine by me. I would like to work as a CNA first to make sure i like the field before i commit myself to nursing school. Here's my question. Anyone out there work in the mental health field as a cna? I am EXTREMELY interested in the mental health field, especially working with adolescents in crises (eating disorders, substance abuse, depression, etc.) I would like to work at a hospital in their psych ward or at a residential treatment facitliy. I was just wondering, as a CNA what my job duties would be. Could someone maybe tell me what a typical day is like. Job duites, etc. And let me know how you like it!

I can't wait to hear!!:D

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Specializes in ER, OB.

i work in mental health unit (we call it behavioral health) at my local hospital. most of what i do is babysitting and arguing. i love it. there is very little aide work involved. i do some aide work if we have old patients that are incont. i spend a lot of time listening and talking to the patients. we have from kids to people from the nursing homes. i also have to do a lot of paperwork. the nurses in my unit don't really do anything different from what we do but they can give the meds. we have to document every 15 minutes where everyone is. we have a lot of teens and middle aged people. we don't have anyone with eating disorders though. the work itself is really pretty easy (unless you have pts. trying to hit/kick/cut/etc. you) but it really makes you think and use your social skills. i really enjoy working in mental health never a dull momment. well good luck and check out the psy nursing part of this site it is under specialtys at the very top you will learn a lot about psy nursing. good luck!!!

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Specializes in med/surg, psych, public health.

Hi yuyu75,

If you are feeling drawn to this type of work, I urge you to go for it.

I've worked in both behavioral health & residential treatment and

really miss all the types of patients and dx's that I got to see and

learn from/about. You will have so many varied experiences!

I enjoyed working with all the pts. I encountered and had a very

good rapport with them, especially with schizophrenic, OCD, manic-

depressive & eating disorder pts.

I truly loved working with the RN's, BA's (behavioral analysts) and

the Psychiatrists, Geneticists, Neurologists & MCSW's,

(master clinical social workers) these people help set up behavioral

plans & medication expected outcomes, but the whole staff works

as a whole to help the pts. achieve reasonable goal plans that will

help them be successful in life.

Sure, the job could get scary at times, but when you know you are

really helping people that you care about, the scary thoughts kind of

go to the back of your mind. I always was alert to danger, it becomes

2nd nature, but believe me when I say, pts. can tell when you

really care about them, because some of them will actually step up

to the plate to defend you against harm from another pt. :chuckle and then

you have to redirect them too!

God bless them....psych pts. hold a special place in my heart :redbeathe

Good luck to you yuyu75!

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I had a friend CNA of mine that got bit by one of the patients and left a big scar on her forarm. Interesting field.

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I was a CNA at a nursing home (might as well call it mental health units). All those pts with AZ and demita....you just have to step into "their world" to connect with them so you can calm them or get them to do what needs to be done. Angie

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