starzzz

I work on an adolescent behavorial psych unit. We have 17 beds on our unit. When it is full, there is me the RN, an LPN who passes the meds and helps monitor the kids and 3 mental health workers for the day shift. On nights we have the same except 3 MHWs. We do a heck of a lot more with these kids than just push pills. We are not trained therapists per say but the majority of our kids need someone to care enough to listen and help them feel safe enough to share everything. We are an acute hospital unit and we see all kinds of kids. Some its probably far past the time of helping them find the coping skills to be a positive part of society but they still need people. Psych nursing has changed tremendously some are good and some not so good, some changes from society and some from the financial (insurance) arena. Just the other day we admitted a kid at 11pm even tho insurance said he didnt qualify, our DON didnt bat an eye said we will give him as many days as were feasible. He stayed 5 days. Those are probablly days our facility, a for profit facility, wont get paid for but sometimes even for profit facilities are generous and have morals and do whats right. Our facility also has a 10 bed pre ad unit and a 10 bed overflow unit and 60 bed RTC and for the most part we have stayed full long past where the normal slow down occurs... Hmmm wonder what that says about our society and our economy? sorry if i rambled....just found my niche in nursing i guess.....lol....

I started out as a CNA then a CMT and then went straight to RN school.. I really wished I had done the LPN before the RN.... Was a bit rough going from passing meds to being in charge........but hey I love nursing and wouldnt ever want to do anything else....:redbeathe