hanasea

I am currently working at psychiatric ward of teaching hospital. I want to share my experiance with my fellow nurses. We have close ward and open ward, and a few day ago I worked at close ward. Normally I am in open ward setting, but I was kicked to close ward that day. Someday that kind of thing happening. One of Schizophrenia patient acted out, and kicked out my chest directly. His doctor saw it, and ordered security room locking. While moving him to SR, he frantically kicked the doctor, me, a nurse aide, a security guard. Originally the patient was going to discharge the day after tommorow, but the discharge plan cancled after this incident. He was chronic patient, and his family is poor. Also, he didn't had any sense. I always felt so sorry for him. Sueing a patient from hospital will be a hot potato, isn't it? Well, here, I am in South Korea, and we're just going to be silent. I didn't got any bruise. My co-workers asked me if I feel ok, and I answered I'm just fine. I was physically fine, and there was a patient to manage, what can I say? Saying I am not ok, I want to X-ray my chest, etc? That would be look no good. I am just wondering. I heard US nurses are better protected by their law. I wonder, if that kind of incident happened in your ward, what would you do? I love my patient, and I want to help and care for them. But after that experiance, I felt differently. I tried to care him, he cried so hard and pleaded to open the door of SR... but I just don't want to open the door anymore, I felt so afraid of him. How do you deal with that kind of emotion? I am open to other nurses' suggestion. You will be more experiance than me, and have a lot of experiance. Thank you for reading.

I am currently working in big university hospital for 1 year and 9 month. My ultimate goal is to be a nurse in MSF(doctors without borders) someday. I got an opportunity from NGO, to work 1 years in Addisababa, Ethiopia. It is voluntary position, pay is half of what I am earning now. The problem is, that position is for OR nurse and I have no OR experience. Program director suggested that I getting solid six month paid orientation in small hospital. But I am not sure I want to work in OR. And leaving the hospital is easy, but getting in is really hard. Thus I decided not to go there. I'll find another opportunity after I got my soild 2 year clinical experience. But I heard psychiatric nurses are not wanted in MSF. So, which way I should go ? going 3rd country and getting more experience? KOICA; Korea international cooperation agency will give me 2 years experience in third world. 2 years in hospital, 2 years in third world experience will be enough to apply to MSF ? Or I'd better take this OR opportunity ? Or getting another kind of clinical experience, like ICU or ER or OB/GY? I am a Korean nurse and it will be different, but want to hear experience from other nurses especially who already work in MSF or other NGO.

Hello, Bran2. I have no similar experience with you, but a suggestion. As you already wrote, you can ask CC directly. That way you can get accurate answer. Hope your dream will come true =)

Good Luck!

You sound exactly like me! I had six weeks orientation and had hard time to join in. Now I have been here for one and half year. Sometimes I struggle, having problem with charting, and new events, but most of time I feel comfortable with environment. I don’t forget checking I&O, Vital signs, draw blood samples, urine samples. At first time, I forgot and forgot and made too much mistakes. The problem was, I made same mistake again and again. My co-workers were almost gave me up. They encourage me to give up, I am not a nurse material, too slow, don’t understand, can’t communicate, etc. I really wanted to give up, but I have student loan to pay. Now I am much better. I still make few mistakes, and I know there are long way to go – become a competent and trustable nurse. But I am far way better than new me. My co-workers could not trust me yet, they saw too much mistake of mine. (Now I am thinking about changing hospital, but afraid to adjust for another hospital again..but It is another story) I have my all sympathy for your message! You will be better. You will even feel comfortable after certain time. Give you time for adjust. You are doing well.

I am so sorry. You have all my sympathy. I want to tell you something. When I was a nursing student, we went clinical site for nursing internship. One of my classmate made a mistake. She put her lunch sandwich in a refrigerator. It looks like pretty normal thing to do, isn’t it? But the problem is the refrigerator was for medicine. Our nursing school kicked out from that hospital for 3 years from this incident. She accepted her grade… (the unit manager gave her zero grade…) she had to take one more additional clinical course (In my school it was 2 more week- each day 8 hour shift) but she survived that mistake and became a nurse. Of course, It is very different with your situation. Everybody makes mistake, including me. And other nurses. Making a mistake is fine. But making excuse of the mistake considers very bad. I know you are trying to explain your situation, want to get sympathy, warm response. I also think you need some sympathy. But your explaining could be misunderstood. Do NOT try to explain thing to them, just said sorry and you will never do it again. I hope you do not kicked out from your program, and became a nurse someday J Hana, Seoul, Korea.

Meds will be nice but half of patient are not with meds. ;o It is and various professional personnel is going to show how to care 'mind', I guess. Pretty ambiguous. Whom I will with be is most important! It is very basic point but I didn't thought of it. Thank you for your comment, Psychcns

Relaxation technique will be covered in other session! And half of patient are not with meds. But Stress reliever will be great topic for next session!! Thank you very much for your idea, WillyNilly. It is so nice to hear from other nurses

It is exactly what the professor said! I was going to copy a session of other psychologist's, and the proffessor disagree. I got an idea from your comment, Dave. Nearby our hospital, small mountain road is available. Most of depression patient are less of activity. Therefor, I will make them walk! I will prepare story of my life, and will open my ear to hear their hard time story while uphill- easy time story while walking downhill. We will see new flowers of spring, and talk about season, nature, and other things. I guess we will walk for 30-40 minute and share experiance in room for 40-50 minute. You are most helpful. Thank you very much, Dave.

I am currently in South Korea. Actually I am a subtitute for one session! The other member all has Master's degree or Doctor's degree in psychology or medical science. I only have bachelor's degree in nursing. It is my first chance, and I may have another chance If I do well. I guess I shoud ask other member of this course. and 90 minutes is long. I didn't thought about that! I should find something to catch their attention. Your comment is really helpful! Thank you very much, Whispera.

I am currently working as a registered nurse in a psychiatric ward. I have been here for one and half year, and going to do a group counseling session. The session is for depression patient. They are mostly 30-50ish from our outpatient depression clinic, follow up for several years in our hospital. I never held this kind of session before, I just watched other people doing session for six months. Normaly 3-5 patients will came for each session. Seven session will be held, and I will be a main counselor for 5th session. First session will be done by the psychiatric doctor(He is the program manager). He is going to introduce consept of wrong reasoning for patient. 3rd session is for forgiveness. People will talk about it and write letters for people who hurt themselves before. 4rd session is about meditation. 6th session is some kind of art therapy, using clay and make things. 7th session will be lead by the doctor, and he will finish. Each session will be 90 minute and once a week, since it is for 7 weeks program. Can someone give me any kind of hint? I googled related books, documents about "therapeutic recreation" "group therapy" Can someone recommend psychiatric nurse's 90 minute counseling example, or something similar? If any nurse, supported group therapy before? What kind of group program? I am the first nurse who joined this program. and I am very worried about result. (Unit manager also worried...) I have one month, so I ordered few books (for therapeutic recrean and group therapy...) but I feel like lost in nowhere. No focus in here. Thank you for reading *English is not my mother tongue, and I am trying to learn. If you feel hard to understand or found error from my post, please mention it. It will be very helpful for me. Thanks again!

I think you will be a great psych NP! :) My father worked as a policeman over 30 years. I shall respect you too

Working in a psychiatric ward of university hospital for solid 1 year. Giving Ativan 2mg and Haldol 5mg mix via IV to sedate patients such as Schziphrenia, bipolar, etc. Rarely giving Ativan 4mg and Haldol 5mg. Never gave Haldol over 5mg.

I am getting hospital RN experience, but at closed psychiatric ward in University hospital. I have solid one year experience, and will stay one more year to get minimum standard. Will this clinical experience helpful? Should I looking for another job as ER, OR, or OB/GY nurse? I love psychiatric nursing. However, I am not sure if MSF wants psychiatric ward nurses. As for international background, I am a Korean nurse working in a Korean hospital, and have four month stayed in US and had traveled to Japan and Hongkong. Where would you recommend getting developing country experience? I want to go Malawi, or any African country but hard to find paying job over there as psychiatric nurse. Maybe I should find another volunteering organization? As for language, I am taking my English course. Should I take basic French course? Or I need to build up my English to be fluent? Thank you for reading this message. Working at MSF was all my dream. Thank you.

I guess I asked wrong help at this forum.. /cry sorry to disturb you guys.