Eviene

Self-harm is a cathartic process done for lots of reasons, sometimes just to feel alive, to stop feeling numb, or just to feel something. The usual treatment would be to minimise the risks the child presents and to assess whether the child presents ...

Apparently, there is evidence to suggest that dolphins 'rape'. I'm not sure how credible this is, can't find a link just yet.

Wards in England are mixed, and you may share a dorm for part of your admission, but you will not share it with men.

Hi Claire, I am a staff nurse on an acute admissions unit in England. It is usually hospital trust policy to request that patients' property be searched for offensive weapons, illicit drugs, prescribed medication, and alcohol as they have the potent...

I have often found myself acting as a catalyst for a patient bubbling away (a very dangerous thing) By pushing buttons and getting them to respond, I can manage them more safely.

I work in acute adult directorate in Britain, not qualified in using DBT but we offer a day programme for borderline pds using DBT. The therapists who offer this are piloting clinical supervision for staff re bpd patients. I find it quite helpful, ...

Your advice to her is sound, but you're her friend, not her nurse. I'd sort that out straightaway.

I didn't report an elated patient who threatened to kill me, but we've had a cultural change on my ward now and are more willing to press charges, but there doesn't seem to be much support from management. I think nurses would feel safer if trusts p...

I think your charge nurse has borderline traits.

Dia duit agus failte. Could any of the Irish nurses point me in the direction of some nursing agencies/hospitals in Ireland -I'm registered in mental health? Go ruabh mile amaith agat.

Sorry to hear about your friend. It will be investigated by the trust.

There are situations in which you have a duty of care that the patient does not acquiesce, threfore training (with its black-and-white presentation) is inadequate.

If you have little experience then it will be so exciting for you to learn so much, yet you will always learn, regardless of your level of experience. It is your employer/supervisors responsibility to make sure you're not "eaten alive", and was a ve...

I've just seen the American state locations, perhaps you run things differently to Britain.

I can't get over the amount of diagnoses he has. Surely they're not all current? If so, his medics need to make their mind up. If he is off his medication, he will find it very difficult to engage in rational thought and behaviour and so communicat...

It might also be worth liasing with your psych colleagues for physical intervention skills. (Doesn't work if a patient refuses to get up off the floor)

Any mental health nurses willing to opine? I work in the acute adult directorate and after positive pilots of a crisis resolution service, my trust is now implementing this service with a view to it becoming the gatekeepers of our service (previousl...

I'm not an adult nurse so I can only offer suggestions from my CFP experience in which I was placed mainly in community hospitals and this did become quite monotonous. I think OPD's are a really good idea, and would have exposed me more to the divers...

I think access to your own computer is desirable, but it doesn't have to be a laptop. If you're worried about missing important points in lectures you can always do what Mike suggested, or have lesson plans/content emailed to you. If you find you wo...

I'd come along depending on the venue-I'm in east midlands.

Well done for your example. Obviously the staff need some kind of forum to address their concerns. Perhaps you could suggest this to your mentor/ward manager?

I'm looking to relocate and am trying to get a feel for employment prospects for psych nurses, with little joy. Can anyone recommend any good sites?

cheers for the advice. Tried an bord without much luck, have been contacting the regional boards for last 8 months -not much progress there either. Will keep on with the Indo.

To see your notes you have to apply in writing to your cons psych. There will be a fee you have to pay to copy them, and the cons can take anything out they don't want you to see. (S)he can't deny you an appt if you want to see them, so persist. R...

catz, I'd suggest you ask to see your psychiatric notes or request an out-patients appointment with your consultant psych (do this through his secretary) and try and get some kind of diagnosis and plan sorted. Your gp can prescribe yet another anti-...