Preparation for Psych Clinical

zacsmimi · Jul 9, 2005

Hello. I'm currently in nursing school, and I will be starting my psych rotation in the fall. Is there anything you would recommend that I do or review before plunging into psych? I am actually interested in doing psych nursing in the future, so I want to be extra prepared and focused when I start!

Try reading up on basics, understand the DSMs... understand the basics (read)

bipolar, manic, schizophrenia, 0bsessive-compulisive behavior, addictions, suicide ideation and assessment, borderline behaviors

if you will work with teens read up on sexual abuse, drug use, self-mutilating behaviors (you see this with all ages I guess)

read up on how to help diffuse a tense situation. INvaluable in a psych setting.

Good luck. Stay so enthusiastic!!

JazzerRN · Jul 14, 2005

Hello, Califlower.

I just graduated from Nursing college. I had my psych clinical in my last semester. To be extra prepared I can suggest to read up on the most common disorders, psych meds (antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizer etc.) also do some research and find good information on the different medications--you can use to do patient medication education. In addition find information on coping skills, stress management and anger management.

One more thing--review your guidelines for therapeutic and non-therapeutic communication. Practice your therapeutic responses--it will come in handy.

Good Luck and welcome to the wonderful world of psych. I landed a job right out of school at a local mental health facility and am loving every minute.

CharlieRN · Jul 21, 2005

Take a hard look at your own vulnerablities. Psych clinical is a schock to the system. Examine your assumptions. Do you think crazy people are disgusting? Funny? Stupid? Subhuman? What scares you most about them? The only day of nursing school I ever "cut" was the second day of pysch clinical.

If nothing scares you then you should have a long look at that. A psych unit can be dangerous to both your physical and mental health.

What do you want out of nursing? Do you expect to be liked and respected by the people you are trying to help? Can you handle being distrusted, even hated? How are you about being lied to? Threatened? Cursed? Ever been cursed in the old fashioned religious way, by someone who seriously expects God to answer their prayer for your death and damnation? Who happens to be working within the framework of religious beliefs you share?

Think about your boundries. Contray to popular culture, boundries are a very good thing. Having strong, appropriate, boundries is essential to the psych nurse. The theeraputic relationship is like no other. Psych patients don't always look or act sick or dangerous. Mostly they are sad people who have been overwhelmed by life, often they are admirable people. I knew a young man who had murdered his father, that I would have happily had marry my daughter. I felt and still feel he was a sterling character.

What if you realize that one of your patients happens to be "the one", that one perfect person for you? Can you walk away from that?

james fm · Jul 21, 2005

Respect each client, be aware of your environment and know your bounderies.

ARNPsomeday · Jul 21, 2005

Hello. I'm currently in nursing school, and I will be starting my psych rotation in the fall. Is there anything you would recommend that I do or review before plunging into psych? I am actually interested in doing psych nursing in the future, so I want to be extra prepared and focused when I start!

Hi, Califlower. If you yourself have a disorder, please realize that if you want to specialize in psych you must work very hard on your own issues first. That's what the experienced nurses have said.

sayitgirl · Aug 7, 2005

Respect each client, be aware of your environment and know your bounderies.

the best advice yet...

misschelei · Aug 7, 2005

Stay safe! Some Psych patients change from docile to not so docile with little warning. When I was in my Psych rotation one woman suddenly accused me of staring at her because I thought I was prettier than her. My friend slowly backed out of the room to get help. I swore this lady was about to flip on me then I said I liked the beads in her hair, that's what I was looking at she smiled telling me I was groovy. You gotta be ready for that stuff and figure out pretty quick how to properly react. Also be confident psych patients smell fear a mile away.

CharlieRN · Aug 7, 2005

On the other hand, don't worry too much. A psychiatrist I was working with once told me, "Charlie, in Psych, if you say the right thing half the time, you are doing really well."

Califlower · Aug 9, 2005

Respect each client, be aware of your environment and know your bounderies.

That's a really good advice! I think that goes also for other nursing fields as well as psych. ARNPsomeday, I don't have any psychological disorders that I know of (I hope!). While I am glad I am in good health physically and mentally, I think I would have to work harder to truly understand where psych patients are coming from. I worry that I may not be able to understand or relate, but I have no doubt that I will be working hard to be the best that I can.

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Aug 9, 2005

You got a lot of good feedback here, especially boundaries. I'd like to add...remember the dignity of the patient . Another...be honest with patients and colleagues...if you don't know, say so.

BCzito · Aug 14, 2005

To add to that read up on anxiety disorders they are usually comorbid with almost everything. And its nice if you can have empathy for anxiety it can be really debilitating to people.

Also I would buy yourself some extra patience and a four leaf clover. ! good luck!

Try reading up on basics, understand the DSMs... understand the basics (read)
bipolar, manic, schizophrenia, 0bsessive-compulisive behavior, addictions, suicide ideation and assessment, borderline behaviors
if you will work with teens read up on sexual abuse, drug use, self-mutilating behaviors (you see this with all ages I guess)
read up on how to help diffuse a tense situation. INvaluable in a psych setting.
Good luck. Stay so enthusiastic!!