New CMH nurse

[Kathyada3375]

I have just changed my field of work from Dermatology to Community Mental Health - I have no experience in this field x for nsg school many years ago. Just wondering if anyone has any help/tips/suggestions for a very green CMH nurse. I had a week of orientation last week, and am headed to my office this week with a couple patients a day and a supervisor a phone call away. Just wondering if anyone else here has been in my shoes and if so what helped them out?? Any info is appreciated!

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

1. Make it a point to evaluate your patient's medication regime, his/her understanding of it, and his/her system of self administration. Is your patient taking meds as prescribed?

2. Make sure to have a list for yourself of all your local community agencies that assist folks with medication assistance, food pantries, housing/shelters, health care (ie free clinics), pharmacy telephone numbers. Community Mental Health Centers telephone numbers(using sliding scale), drug and alcohol treatment centers (using sliding scale) and et cetera. Having this info to carry around with you will not only assist you...but will help your patients if a referral is needed. Keep your list up to date (about every 6 months).

3. Just because your visits are primarily for mental health, Do Not neglect physical assessments. Physical illnesses unchecked may often exacerbate mental health symptomatology. Very important.

4. Have the telephone number of your local "mobile crisis team" memorized in case you need to contact them (suicidality, homicidality, acute psychosis with agitation, and significant self neglect).

5. Depending on your state, know your local telephone number to call if you suspect/witness child/elderly abuse.

6. A pocket sized psychpharm book to carry with you.

At the moment, this is what comes to mind.

Wolfie