wavyleafthistle

I work as a psych RN in an inpatient crisis stabilization unit specializing in suicidal ideation and homocidal ideation where probably 80% of my patients have transferred from a hospital or ER post suicide attempt. My 12 hour shift starts with report from the night nurses where I learn about the patient's reasoning for being here, diagnosis, significant medical hx, allergies, how they rated their depression and anxiety from 0-10, prn medications administered, any medication side effects they've been experiencing, any hallucinations or self harm hx, and if they're still currently suicidal or homocidal. After report, I prepare my morning medications for my patients (usually 6-10 patients per nurse) and introduce myself to them and ask them again about their pain, depression, anxiety, how they slept, side effects from meds, if they are suicidal here, if they plan on attempting suicide while hospitalized with us, if they would be suicidal at home, if they have a plan to leave and commit suicide, if they want to hurt anyone on the unit, if they have self harmed or are having thoughts about self harming, and if they are experiencing any hallucinations. After that, I go to rounds with the treatment team that consists of the other nurses, the unit manager, the social workers, and our doctors. We present how the patient is doing and how we can help them successfully and safely transition back to their homes. After rounds, I will do some charting and depending on the type of day I will check on my patients, work on admits and discharges, and put out fires . Patients go to groups, meet with the doctors, new meds are presribed or doses upped, and lots of prn's for anxiety and pain are given. I try to keep a watchful eye on all of the patients on the unit in order to address potential "break downs" before they become overwhelming. Then somehow 12 hours has passed and I see night shift coming down the hall and I get ready to go home! I love psych. Wouldn't be anywhere else!