IamRN08

Prune juice would be just prune juice if it were only used a cup or two daily. However, we are talking like 5 or more large tumbler type cups and they would drink more if given more. To add to this matter, since this thread started and we have changed the way was distribute prune juice we have found that the pts that drink the most prune juice are also putting toothpaste in their drinks. I asked one of them why and was informed that it makes their drinks taste like alcohol. So there was (is) something with the juice and now the toothpaste issue after all. Plus some of these pts are very young so not from that generation. Either way, I just knew something was not on the up and up and it seems that we are getting to the bottom of things.

OK we slowly started to implement the changes for the juice this past weekend. I make them drink small cups at the counter vs taking small or large cups. Room sweeps are a little harder to pull off but at least things are moving a little bit in a different direction. Thank you to everyone, as always the advice here is great.

OK I know this is a very odd question but I figured I would throw it out and see if anyone has info about it. I work on a in patient chronic psych unit. We have a variety of juices that we use for our patients. All our juice is kept in the med room so that means that each time a pt wants juice they ask a nurse. Over the past month I have noticed that our pts are consuming a large amount of prune juice. Honestly, they drink so much that it makes me wonder if there is a connection between this type of juice and psych pts. I know their meds can lend to constipation but this juice thing is way beyond a cup or two for relief of constipation. I have informed the patients that there is a limit on the juice but of course I am only there a short time and I can't control what other staff does. I have worked in the substance abuse field a long time and as odd as it sounds these pts are displaying addictive type behaviors over prune juice. They continually approach the desk asking for it and if you say no they wait till another staff comes into the area and tries to secretly ask them for it. When they get it they rush off to various corners of the unit where they are out of site. Then soon as they consume it they are really back at the desk with in 30 mins asking for more. It's so intense that I just can't help but wonder if there is some type of connection here that I am just missing. I figured if grapefruit juice can mess with so many meds perhaps there is a connection with prune juice too?? I would love some feedback on this odd topic.

A lot of the patients don't want to quit and I can't say either way if I am for or against the whole no smoking at hospital thing. However, our facility is going smoke free and yes they will provide patches and gum and things like lolly pops to help the transition. My goal is to give our patients some assistance through the transition best I can. I just read that smoking actually increases the amount of psych meds pts have to take for the intended goal. I am trying to research the validity of that because our pts hate taking their meds so if this really true then that would be a nice way to empower pts is my thinking.

Gotcha... thanks for catching my typo.

Excellent info thank you so much! I am in NJ and I did find some guidelines regarding groups for MICA pts online from the state so hopefully I can work this out. I am going to check this OASIS book.

Thank you for your reply David. I have fact sheets and such, what I was looking for are guidelines on how to run groups for pts on the topic of smoking cessation. I was hoping that someone had perhaps run a group previously and might be able to give me some tips and info.

Hello everyone. I work on a in pt chronic psych unit in a place that is going smoke free soon. It is my job to do smoking cessation groups with the pts and as a non smoker I am lost on where to go to even begin putting a program together for mental health pts. Most of our pts are diagnosed with schizophrenia. If anyone has any outlines or steps that have been positivley used to empower pts to stop smoking I would love to have some help with this.

This is a very timely topic for me. Our facility just started a treatment program for our chronic pts who do not have the levels to go off the unit. I am excited at this new opportunity and as a RN I want to offer up some activities beyond the basic board games I have been doing so far. I was thinking of taking my chair yoga CD in and I would love some other ideas if anyone has any. The setting is basically a mix of male/female long term. Acuity ranges from severe to mild as does our age ranges and social backgrounds. So basically it's a super hard task to find something that engages all patients, so I am just going for something that will bring about some interest to some of the patients with the goal of getting our more explosive pts involved. If I can find a way to get them in a relaxation group of some sort I think might lower their episodes of being restrained for sure. Anyone have any other ideas?

You all have given such great insight to my question big thanks to each of you! Last week we were told about a new nursing model rolling out which will actually give me more opportunities to work with patients on various aspects so I am excited about that. In addition, the job I have now is giving me a great chance to work with a broad spectrum of patients so I am getting the opportunity to see which population I will want to focus on in the years to come. Thank you to all of you and I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season.

Thank you for such a in depth answer. You provided a lot of information that I needed to say the very least . Originally I had planned on becoming a LCSW but after working with so many of them and hearing the reality of the low paycheck I opted for the nursing route after being advised that it would give me a more direct route to the field. However, when I am working I just cringe with the thought that a med nurse won't show up and I am going to have to push those pills. I ran groups for a long time as a case manager or similar and I was very fullfilled with that type of work. I am going to have to do some soul searching on this for sure. I can't see myself pushing pills for the rest of my career.

I am a recent grad working in psych now. I like psych and it is one of the main reasons I went to nursing school. However, I am finding that there is not a lot of interaction with patients other than answering a question, or passing meds when you don't have a LPN. Can anyone tell me if there are avenues nurses can take in order to do more of a therapy role? My end goal in my career would be to hang my own shingle so to speak and run my own company doing individual therapy, groups and workshops. I just don't know how to proceed to get to that level. Thanks in advance for the assistance....

Yeah I understand what you are saying about the safety factor. It's not the warm and fuzzy safe feeling of working in different hospital. Honestly after being there for a few months now I really miss the people at the other place I worked. It just isn't easy walking away from the benefit package that the state gives especially in this economy.

This is just amazing stuff to hear! I hear the hospital where I work is very resistant to change and right now they are going through a flurry of change and there is a lot of staff who are fighting tooth and nail. I would love to hear how your IM department (which is what I meant by holisitic) made the first steps to get the psych department on board with changes. How did you introduce it? Also, I would love to PM you but I don't have that option. I think I have to upgrade or have a certain amount of postings to get that option.

I would love to hear some experience from anyone who has used a holistic approach in a psych setting. There seems to be such a benefit to that approach yet it is such a rare thing to see in psych settings unless it's a upscale private facility.

I was hired as a new grad because I only had a few months med/surg as a RN. I have been in the medical field though through all of nursing school primarily on the ED. I don't mind starting as a new grad because it gives me time to move into a charge nurse role. Capital is a good system from what I hear. Lot's of opportunity to move around at various facilities.

Yeah I'm not sure whats going on with that 3 day work week issue. Ancora just rolled out the new 3 day work week programs for RNs and it was part of their major selling point so I can't imagine them changing that too soon. I heard there were a lot of changes at TPH but then again I also heard they were on more of a freeze than Ancora and that they were facing more joint issues than Ancora was/is but who knows what is the truth anymore. All I know is that as you said, you have to try what your heart tells you is right and if you can't stand it there are always other options. I don't regret trying the med/surge first no matter how short the time was there because it made me realize just how much I wanted psych. What hospital are you going to?

Congrats on finding a med/surg so close to home! Also thanks for the info on TPH. I had always wanted to work at Ann Klein up that way since the day they opened the doors there. My husband helped program that place and I always wanted to go to work with him just to check it out. I might apply there in the future but right now I am going to stay put at Ancora. As you found out it takes the state a long time to do paper work and I need a steady check for now. Plus the ward I am on has a strong amount of NGRI pts and I am a forensic girl by far so I am pretty happy right now. I think its a good time to start at Ancora because they are making serious changes out there and have been given the funds to do so in order to decrease the incidents. I was pretty happy to see that they are now making certain trainings such as Mandt required by all employees new and old. While we have a med/surg unit I don't plan on working there anytime soon. I did my brief time on med/surg and it was not for me. If I get the desire to start a line again I can take per diem spot at a local ED for that. Stay in touch and let us know how the new job goes....

I forgot to mention that I know several people out there who have been there for like 20-30 years so they have seen the highs and lows and they have all commented that the changes that have come so far have been for the positive. There are now double the amount of nurses doing what one nurse used to do. Hope that helps some.

I just started at ancora today with a handful of other nurses. They made it very clear that there are changes that have recently taken place and that the transition is not over by far. I was also worried about the support staff stuff that I heard. I have to say that after sitting with them today and hearing what they deal with I can understand where some of them come from. It was pretty eye opening to see that they can't get full time right off the bat and they are pretty much at the mercy of the hours they are given which isn't easy if you are still working another job until you get full time there. Plus they are not eligible for any benefits. So they start off disgruntled and I think it just goes down from there. All and all I *wanted* to work there and could have worked anywhere and was offered other position. I also drive close to an hour and would love to be at the Trenton hosp, but it is what it is and I did choose to go to ancora. As you pointed out we make a great salary for a 3 day work week and the benefits are great. The only thing I am having a hard time with now is finding a civil service exam study book because you have to take that exam working at a state facility. Good luck with your decision and let us know what you decide... if you come to anocora let me know and perhaps we can connect.

I was informed today for my new job that I have to take the NJ civil service exam for RN's for STATE jurisdiction. I tried to search study materials for this exam but can't find anything. Does anyone have information regarding study aids for this exam?? Thanks!

Well that stinks.... I am actually a long time member but I couldn't get my old password/log on to work so I created a new account. I have been on the boards for about 3 or 4 years. Guess I will have to post away then to get to that 15. Thank you for helping me with it though, I am one of the computerly challenged folk in the world *grin*

So I tried to pm others from here but it isn't letting me do it. I think I have to upgrade my membership to do that. Anyone out there who currently works at Ancora?

How do I sent a pm? I would love to talk off the boards.. just tell me what I need to do. Thanks!

Was Cedar D the womans ward? I and am scheduled to start next month at Ancora but I have only heard horrible things about it since I did my interview so I am concerned now. I have heard that as a nurse, if you make some of the long time staff mad at you they have in the recent past done things to nurses cars and such. While I typically take things like that with a grain of salt it is a bit concerning. I would love to hear from Nancy and others who have since started to see what their thoughts are on the facility as a whole.