JCLVN67

Seroquel is not an antidepressant, it's an antipsychotic and is used as a mood stabilizer in mania. I have had a few patients who have had it as a prn, but they usually take it scheduled as well. I usually don't give 2 prns at the same time for the same reason unless the Dr's order expessly states that to be acceptable. I have given 3 prns together for the same reason for extreme agressive behavior, but the the orders for Haldol 10mg IM, Ativan 2mg IM and Benadryl 50mg IM all stated that they may be given together. Hope this helps.

I work in a state psych hospital as an LVN, do meds, treatments, set appointments, generally run my a** off while the RNs do massive amounts of charting and staff supervising. I like the job very much, have been there a year and a half and plan on staying many more. Wishing you the best, JCLVN

He probably can't figure out how to read a bus schedule or he's afraid of "looking poor" His opinions mean naught.

well thanks everyone, i guess it varies from job to jos state to state. I think maybe tommorow i'll suggest we statrt treating it like a med if they want to classify it as one, as in locked in med cart/med room instead of in an area where unlicensed personel can get their hands on it. what a load of baloney! (IMHO)

At the hospital where I work, the triple antibiotic ointment is kept in the treatment room with the band aids and other minor first aid supplies, all of a sudden we need a doctor's order to use the stuff, is this standard practice or just my hospital being weird? What's the policy where some of you work? Thanks!

Psychiatrists ARE medical doctors.They went to med school and had to work as residents before becoming psychiatrists. I've seen psychiatrists who still "know their stuff" when it comes to medical issues.But then again I'm sure they are behind the times in current trends and techniques in general medicine. Just my two cents.

Whenever people ask how I can work in psych, I just laugh and tell them I love it it's just like a family reunion. LOL. I guess I really just know how to talk to people in a respectful way, all the while presenting the reality of the situation to them while the're in a psychotic state. I have success with so called difficult patients every day in getting them to cooperate with meds, millieu, etc. When I see their health improve and eventual discharge, I feel I have made a difference. Also I'm not wild about the messines of medical hospitals and LTC's, y'all can have your caths IVs, rampant germs and doctors and nurses with no communication skills. Just my humble opinion , though, there's a niche for every nurse and I feel this is mine.

I understand what you mean about not wanting to feel like you are abandoning your patients, so maybe you ought to reprt any neglect or violations of rights to your department of aging and disability or whatever they call such enforcement agency in your state. you can file complaints anonymously, they'll surely investigate and the management will be forced to make changes or else be subject to fines and /or being closed down if the situation is that unacceptable.

Get Out of Dodge, you worked hard for your license, don't let this place jeopardize it! You are being taken advantage of by unscrupulous management and / or ownership. Try a state hospital or school. I"m an LVN at a state psychiatric hospital. I know mental health care is not for everyone, but I am frightened of nursing homes like the one you describe and one that I used to work at and quit after five months worth of grief similar to yours. It'll get better, there are a ton of other jobs out there for you.

Landscape Gardener, which in fact I was for ten years before becoming a nurse. It involves a lot of biological knowlege and interest as well as a nurturing qualitiy. Ever since I was a kid I enjoyed working outdoors with plants and I still do. The business side was never lucrative or secure enough, though. If I worked for a landscape or nursery company, i never made enough money or had any benefits,(read, I was exploited) and when I had my own business, there were only so many hours in the week of daylight for me to work, although I was highly in demand, but I don't have a head for business (read, I don't like exploiting people) and didn't want to hire people to work for me. I just felt that I didn't know how to be "president of a landscape company" all I was really good at was the art and science of gardening. I really do enjoy nursing, and I have more security in my life now. I even have work when the weather is bad! LOL. Also, I have time to work on my own landscape and veggies and stuff with no pressure, purely for enjoyment. I also take on small projects for colleagues and nieghbors from time to time on my days off, and if you just want to wax horticultural, I can shoot the breeze with ease.

Psych hospitals employ many lvns. I work at a state psych hospital as an lvn.