New Psych RN - ADVICE NEEDED

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I am a new psych RN and I keep looking for a book I can buy to help me with my psych RN skills a sort of, "How To Psych Nurse For Dummies." But I am starting to believe there is no such book. Or is there?

I have purchased the DSM V (more so I can read about the diagnosis my patients have, what it means etc) and also the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice 2nd edition. I feel like this - if I were working on a medsurg floor I would rock it out. I can insert IVs, draw blood, care for wounds, ensure the bed is always in the lowest locked position like nobodies business, but on psych I just feel lost and I don't like it :-( I feel like no one teaches you how to be a psych nurse, like we are taught to document, unit policies and then set free to figure it out on our own. I want to provide proper care, proper therapeutic communication, want to know how to properly interact with the patients etc.

Does anyone understand what I am trying to say? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Whether it be a book to buy or an article to read or even tips - yes tips would be great! I truly love this patient population and just want to help them as best as I can.

Thank you for taking time out your day to read my post and reply to it :-)

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Specializes in PMHNP/Adjunct Faculty.

Hello! Welcome to the exciting world of psych :up:

I don't know of a psych for dummies book per say but I would recommend buying Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing review and resource manual 5th edition by Kim Hutchinson. It is the official review book for the RN-BC psych certification when you get 2 years of experience but it's a great review book. It's on Amazon and Amazon is having a 25% off one book sale up to $10. I would take that deal.

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Thank you! I have been waiting for someone to reply lol. I will be buying this book! I truly appreciate your response :D

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Specializes in Care Coordination, Care Management.

Out of curiosity, did you not have a Psych clinical rotation?

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I did but it was very much a watch kind of deal, and what I saw wasn't much. The RNs were buried in paperwork and the techs ran the floor. I spent my clinicals with the techs who just policed the area. The hospital I work in is much different we have alot of opportunities to interact with the patients. We are well staffed and even when I charge nurse I always get the opportunity to interact with the patients. I am unsure if my interactions are correct. I'm just kind of learning as I go, reading what I can, and crossing my fingers that oneday I will "get" psych nursing the way I "get" medsurg nursing.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Welcome to AN.com and Psych Nursing, NMorrisRN!

Your interest and preparation in entering a new field of practice is admirable. You have entered into an excellent resource in this Psychiatric Nursing forum and have already begun to reach your goal through discussion.

I would encourage you to continue to pursue your goal by getting involved with the various discussions on this forum. You can also use the Search option located at the bottom of the Forum page to read about your areas of interest, or even bring up a past discussion with a comment or question of your own.

There have been many areas of Psych Nursing discussed by People's whose education and experience span the spectrum. Their experience will help you in reaching your goal, and your fresh perspective will help us to remember what we came here for in the first place: to learn, experience, and to help others.

The very best to you in your endeavor, NMorrisRN!

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Specializes in PMHNP/Adjunct Faculty.
Thank you! I have been waiting for someone to reply lol. I will be buying this book! I truly appreciate your response :D

You're welcome!

I also had a second suggestion as an afterthought. If you are interested in learning specific tips (not general guidelines as was presented to us in nursing school) about therapeutic communication, do some research on Collaborative Problem Solving. Dr. Ross Green and Dr. Ablon developed the approach and it is backed by research (Google "Reduction of Restraint and SeclusionThrough Collaborative Problem Solving:A Five-Year Prospective Inpatient Study"). Check it out!

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Specializes in Mental Health.

Unfortunately, most of the skills required to be a mental health nurse aren't available to learn in books! Identifying really good role models might be useful, through reflection of your practice in a safe environment, asking questions of your peers. Focussing on diagnosis is important but should not be your primary focus. The DSM has been described as being unreliable and lacks validity by Thomas Insell (a prominent Psychiatrist), so if you are keen on providing evidence-based practice, then you might want to consider researching nursing diagnoses instead!

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