mathis1965

My concern in your post is that you are depressed and you realize it. You are grieving and may need to seek counseling. When my father died 2 years ago i went into a deep depression and other things were going on as well. Life happens. Please seek counseling of your pastor or other professional. Are you taking any medicine to help with the symptoms? You may need them for a short time to work through this grief or long term... I cannot stress how important it is to take care of your mental health....

I want to wish you luck in your studies and career.

I recently changed paths and have become a psych nurse. I find that it is very sad because so many of the patients are there against their will. It saddens me that patients are treated like criminals. On the other side of the coin, I have been a nurse since 1986 and this is the main department that I have felt threatened. I have also been hit and cussed for every name in the book. These patients are set up to fail and I want to help but do not know how. Any suggestions?

I feel that if the prn is ordered and the patient asks for it like for anxiety or pain that it is my job to give it. If the doctor does not want the patient to have it they should dc it. The nurse should use good judgement in administration of prn medications not withhold the meds because they don't want to give it.

Usually the goal is to prevent the mania and depression, so the meds are used year round. Some only require one medication to stabilize the mood like depakote, and some require multiple medications.

Just keep doing what is right for your patients and for yourself. Sorry to say that those nurses are present in all areas. I went to school to help people and I love what I do. I am new to Psych Nursing as well but psych is a part of all areas of nursing. Hang in there and know that it will bite that nurse in the but eventually.