PACT team - considering position

gypsyme7 · Jul 29, 2008

I'm a Lead Nurse on a PACT Team in Massachusetts. It is unlike any type of nursing you have done but it emcompasses almost every aspect of any nursing you've ever done. Because it is OUTREACH; you go into the community along with Vocational rehab specialist; drug and alcohol coucilers; MSW' clinicians and Psychiatrist. You are working with the sickest chronic persistant mentally ill clients; many who have spent a lifetime in hospitals and institutions. Out goal is to help them recover; that is be in remission from their illness. We teach them the tools for life IN society and out of hospitals. On any given day you could take them grocery shopping; teach them how to cook; clean; make healthy life choices. PACT is different than case management in that all members of the TEAM can do each others job.Nursing of course is different in many ways but PACT nurses help search for housing; do job coaching so many things in addition to NURSING! It's extremely fast paced and not for the weak of heart. Some of the places these clients live in are not the nicest places in the world. Some clients don't have basic hygiene skills. Some come from group homes and need to learn how to make their own choices and decisions. And most are diagnosed with schizophrenia. schzoaffective illness and extreme bipolar illness with schizoaffective features. The rewards are seeing your clients progress from being dependant people to independant people over a long period of time. The changes are very slow and very subtle but they are also incredible! I will end here. PACT nursing is so much of what I've said and more.!