here_kitty

At my hospital, if a patient is in a DBT program outpatient, we are not supposed to even have 1:1 with the patient. We are just supposed to pass meds, address immediate needs, and encourage the patient to refer to their workbooks. I think they are even supposed to stay out of group therapy. And I think this is great, because I don't want their short stay in the hospital to unwind any progress they have made in DBT. Too many of the staff that I work with don't know much about DBT, and a new charge nurse is leading the way to develop a protocol that the psychiatrists will initiate on admission (supposing we know they have BPD dx). I haven't seen the preliminary yet, but something needs to be done so that there is consistency between shifts for the patients who need it most!

The patients in my hospital wear ID bands, but often take them off or they are otherwise made illegible. We are supposed to check 2 forms of ID with the patient, but sometimes they are so psychotic, that they don't give the correct information, then I'm out of compliance by giving them meds without verification of who they are! What do you all do? I'm hoping that the next visit by the JC will be on a day when I am working with lucid patients!

It gets used a lot on our units for anxiety (like 25-50 mg doses). We usually give higher doses (100 mg+) for sleep.

Wow! I feel very blessed to work where I do! The usual assignment is 3 patients plus meds on 1 or 2 others, on a day or evening shift. On night shift, it's another story, you could get 8 patients on our least acute unit, but for the most part they are sleeping all nite. I love my coworkers, and other than a new charge nurse who is a micro manager, management is fabulous and very receptive to staff concerns. I'm sorry about the less than ideal working conditions for everyone that doesn't have it good! I hope that you are able to keep your morale up so that you can keep the patient's hopeful about their future as well.

:yelclap: Exactly, it's unfortunate, however, that the mentally ill who ARE violent are the ones that are the representatives for all the other gentle, kind souls who happen to suffer from the same disease. If John Wayne Gacy had diabetes (I don't know if he did, but suppose), he would not become the poster boy for people with diabetes, that would be absurd. But, people like Cho, who happened to have a mental illness and committed the atrocity he did because of it are made to represent the entire population. It's time that mental illness really become a topic of conversation. In that vein, please see my post at https://allnurses.com/forums/f46/canvas-film-221019.html. Talks about an awesome movie that, if it becomes mainstream, could be an eye-opener to people who only think that the mentally ill are dangerous.

Go for it! I am a relatively new grad (June '06) and started in August working in the psych units at my hospital. They didn't have any problem hiring me, in fact, I think I was hired over a few med/surg experienced nurses. I haven't had a great need for the skills I learned in school, and I don't ever want to work med/surg, but if I do decide to try something different, there are ways to regain those skills. By the way, the majority of my patients are psychotic, schizophrenic, or manic, not depressed.

We have 3 units at the hospital I work at, 2 of them have lockers in which pt's belongings are stored, the third has a drawer for each patient (pretty small one, too) and then any 'overflow' gets put in a bag and labeled with the patients name and locked in a closet. One time, we had a gal who had been picked up at a grocery store by the police and brought directly to us, and she had bags and bags of items she had just purchased. Her non-perishables were stored in several lockers, I'm not sure what they did with her perishable items. We also have a washer/dryer on each unit, so we wash pt's clothes that they come in with. Sometimes, they really need it

I am interviewing for a job as a new grad on an inpatient acute crisis unit...I had a clinical rotation there and loved it, but I am just curious about what the downfalls to a career in psych could be. What are some of the things you don't like about working in psych?

What you don't like is a good question...I wonder how much is similar to what med-surg nurses don't like? I think I'll start a new thread.

Morgan314: Thank you for your reply! Your response is very compassionate, a quality all psych nurses should have! I am a new grad, and I REALLY loved my psych rotation, and I have an opportunity to interview for a part time psych position...so I guess I am trying to determine if I have 'what it takes'. Thanks again!

We did ATI in school too, and had access to non-proctored tests as well as having 3 or so proctored tests. As a learning tool, it was great (my program used the proctored tests as mid-terms and finals...in that way they had no idea what would be on test and as a result there were questions on things we never covered in theory). The NCLEX predictor test was a great boost to my self esteem and my belief that I could pass the NCLEX (which I took on 7/8 and passed!!!) I also used the Kaplan study guide which teaches you strategies for choosing the correct answer. Honestly, though, I think the Kaplan book was a bigger factor in my passing than ATI was.

I am so sorry you didn't pass this time, but don't give up! I would REALLY REALLY recommend the Kaplan NCLEX study guide, they teach you strategies to help identify the correct answer and dismiss the distractors. After reading this book, it was alot easier for me to prioritize patients. Good luck in the future!!!

what do you love about psych nursing? what was your motivation for choosing psych nursing as a specialty? :monkeydance:

Emilyerin-do we go to the same school? I had this very same assignment, VERBATIM! Thanks, by the way, I posted under 'nursing student forum' and got no bites

Thanks, everyone for you input. One more question (that might seem kinda dumb, but I'm still a student :>) The hospital I did my critical care rotation in also had an ICU, do most hospitals have this ICU step-down sort of situation?

To everyone who posted prospective interview questions - thank you! I will be entering the job market this summer, and it is helpful to think about and answer these questions for yourself, before you are asked in an interview!

next term is my 10 week precepted experience. we get to choose what type of unit to be on for our experience. i know from my rotations that i do not like med/surg. i had a brief rotation in critical care, working with cva's, and i loved that. i am also currently in my psych rotation, which i also love. i think that i might like oncology, but have never had an experience there to help me determine (i thought i would love labor & delivery until my rotation there...). many past students in my program have been hired directly into the units they precepted on, and this is also a goal of mine. so, if anyone has any advice to help me make a decision as to where i should precept and start my nursing career...please share!

I don't feel that it is my job to do any investigation. It is my job, however, to protect patients. If I believe that any patients may be harmed as a result of a nurse who claims to use drugs, it is my duty to report that, whether I have evidence or not. It could be that a case is being built and all that is needed is information like this.

That is correct, you possess knowledge that she claimed to use drugs. If someone gave you information on, let's just say a murder they had committed, would you feel ethically/morally/legally bound to report that? And, if you live in another state, I would recommend that you check the nurse practice act for your state, as I said in my original post.

The nurse practice act for Oregon states: Nurses, regardless of role, whose behavior fails to conform to the legal standard and accepted standards of the nursing profession, or who may adversely affect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, may be found guilty of conduct derogatory to the standards of nursing. Such conduct shall include, but is not limited to, the following: (1) Conduct related to the client's safety and integrity: ... (k) Failing to report through proper channels facts known regarding the incompetent, unethical, unsafe or illegal practice of any health care provider. Whether you have witnessed her drug use or not, you possess knowledge. It is not your job to do the investigating, but to pass on the knowledge. I would check the NPA for your state, and see what the guidelines are for 'conduct derogatory to the standards of nursing'. In my state, they have a program especially for addicted nurses, wherein they can continue practicing (on a limited basis) while they get treatment.