Smitty08

Smitty08

Psychiatry (PMHNP), Family (FNP)

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All Content by Smitty08

  1. Norwalk community college nursing program 2013

    Smitty08 replied to Sammie2015's topic in Connecticut Nursing

    I went to NNC for nursing back in the Stone Age, I graduated in '84. It was the best thing I could have ever done. I'm still working in Nursing as a Psych NP and this year completing my Doctorate...

  2. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners... are there jobs available?

    Smitty08 replied to jawijrn's topic in Psychiatric

    Hi- The DNP is a relatively new degree, so the DNP prepared psych. nurse will, at this time, be working more typically in an APRN role. This will continue to evolve and there may be a distinct role...

  3. Motivational Message

    Smitty08 replied to Mashira's topic in Psychiatric

    Sounds like a nice idea, would this just be from you or from the other staff too? Be a little careful with that, some patients might misunderstand. It might be better if it were "from the Staff" -...

  4. First job in Psych nursing

    Smitty08 replied to beachhorizon's topic in Psychiatric

    Sounds like you are a natural for psych. given what you said. Your original post mentioned a first job at a rehab/addictions type place. I agree "any job is a good job" but know going in that in...

  5. Should I be concerned?

    Smitty08 replied to mangopeach's topic in Psychiatric

    I agree don't sweat it. Some of those questions on therapeutic communication are among the hardest. Try to find a really good review book and blast away at the questions and be sure to read the...

  6. First Psych Clinical

    Smitty08 replied to incurable_optimism's topic in General Nursing

    Also, when I had my students in psych. I always advised them to quickly find out where all the games and art supplies are kept. Games are great ice breakers, even just a deck of cards. Also, as...

  7. Are there no on campus DNP programs?

    Smitty08 replied to nursetim's topic in Post Graduate Students

    University of Connecticut is once a month classroom and most of the rest

  8. Why are we as Psych nurses seen as bottom of the barrel?

    Smitty08 replied to dreamingofbeing's topic in Psychiatric

    I agree. We are the bees knees. I've helped so many people. How many people can say that? I can appreciate how tough it can be to be in a difficult inpatient setting in psych - been there and done...

  9. I want to be a Psych NP- Advice please!

    Smitty08 replied to beauty912's topic in Psychiatric

    Psych. nursing experience is INVALUABLE both in deciding if this path is right for you and also to build a knowledge base that will serve you well as an NP in psych. The more experience in different...

  10. NP Certification Renewal for those who are dual certified in different specialties...

    Smitty08 replied to xraytech's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    HI I did pursue dually boarding FNP/then PMHNP. It was a really good way for me to go. I completed the FNP first, then did the psych. It involved 6 clinical placements, which was a lot of time....

  11. Pharmacology for Bipolar Dxo

    Smitty08 replied to epijunky's topic in Psychiatric

    Agree with above posters. Often adding an anti-depressant can activate (encourage hypomania/mania) in someone with bipolar. Others with bipolar seem to need an anti-depressant, but I am not 100%...

  12. Any happy psych nurses?

    Smitty08 replied to Hsmommy's topic in Psychiatric

    I was always very happy being a psych. nurse. Never really minded going to work. I felt I could really help people, and I did on a daily basis. Now that I am a PMHNP and completing a DNP, I still...

  13. What do Mental Health NP's do?

    Smitty08 replied to SnowShoeRN's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    I agree with the above 2 posters. There are many different practice sites and philosophies of treatment. I typically do a great deal of medication management ("Throwing meds - NOT!") In fact I...

  14. Psych Nursing vs. Occupational Therapy

    Smitty08 replied to RosePMHNP's topic in Psychiatric

    I loved being a psych. RN, and love being a psych. NP just as much or more. OT and Psych RN or NP are two very different things, I think you have to focus on what is right for your temperament. You...

  15. Suggested Videos / Movies About Mental Health

    Smitty08 replied to NCindasun21's topic in Psychiatric

    Actually there are SOME good and accurate movies out of Hollywood that do a good job of depicting psych. diagnoses, I have used some with students. Hollywood seems to overdramatize the violent...

  16. Nursing Diagnoses: Useless Statements secondary to Professional Insecurity

    Smitty08 replied to Fribblet's topic in Nursing Professionalism

    Regarding the comment: "Any student nurse can tell you that diagnosing belongs in the realm of the physician. Nurses do not diagnose." Actually we do. Check advanced practice scopes of practice,...

  17. Any ideas on how to keep their pants up?

    Smitty08 replied to NCindasun21's topic in Psychiatric

    Hi Has anyone tried velcro? Would rip apart if used for hanging... its cheap

  18. Yale New-Haven, where should I live?

    Smitty08 replied to ctnurse420's topic in Connecticut Nursing

    You might want to look at Upper Orange St. / State Street area of New Haven. I lived there, it was nice. A grad student area. Parking can be tough. Another good area is the village over by SCSU...

  19. Behavioral Unit anyone?

    Smitty08 posted a topic in Psychiatric

    Is it just me or does anyone else dislike the term "Behavioral Unit?"? To me it conjures up images of training versus healing, as one would train an animal. Where did this term come from? Are we...

  20. Sleep Hygiene

    Smitty08 replied to BSN_DEC_2006's topic in Psychiatric

    I am familiar with the term sleep hygiene, I always assumed it was in common use. It makes sense as a descriptor and I use it in my notes to denote a general discussion of a pts sleep. One "sleep...

  21. PSYCH NURSES-please help

    Smitty08 replied to scorpiogurl22's topic in Psychiatric

    I agree with the other two posters and would add: your experience may even be an asset as you will empathise with others and understand some things from first hand experience. Good

  22. Obsessed with death since entering the nursing profession

    Smitty08 replied to nlhnurse1982's topic in General Nursing

    In response to question "what do you mean about the "death myth" from another poster: I used that term because that is how I think of it. After one experiences OOB or life after death, one has to...

  23. Looking for some tech advice.

    Smitty08 replied to Eriseth's topic in Psychiatric

    Sounds about right to me too. In some settings, you may be asked to help lead groups or even lead groups independently. That's helpful experience is you can get that

  24. Question for Psych-Mental Health NPs

    Smitty08 replied to aurora155's topic in Nurse Practitioners, NP

    Sure you can do "private counselling' - I think you mean psychotherapy. I don't do too much of that now but it is well within the scope of practice. Yup, just like the psychiatrists and they...

  25. Obsessed with death since entering the nursing profession

    Smitty08 replied to nlhnurse1982's topic in General Nursing

    I agree with the posts above and I would add: Its interesting you state "I am a spiritual person but not a religious person" I would think that as a spiritual person, not a religious person you might...