SoundRN7

Not everyone with a mental health diagnosis abuses drugs but everyone who abuses drugs has an underlying mental health issue.

Psych nurses are super human! Or maybe that's just one of this crazy psych nurses delusions.

All nurses, not just psych nurses, get frustrated with patients at times. It's completely normal.

When looking for psych nurse jobs online also use the key words "behavioral health" and "mental health" nurse.

During my first week working in psych I thought the same thing, "this is easy." That happened to be a holiday week with few patients and very low acuity. Almost two years later I'm still working psych/AOD crisis and "easy" is not a word I would use for the work I do. That's not to say that you won't have days that seem slow and easy, but that is not the norm.

I work in a psych crisis facility and we can wear street clothes or scrubs. I've never noticed it making a difference to the patients one way or another.

How about doing some progressive muscle relaxation with the group?

Does working in psych make you crazy? I think most of us that work in psych have at least a little crazy in us already. I work psych and I believe it has helped me become a better listener to my family/friends at home. On the negative side, since I deal with "crazy" all day, when I come home I don't have nearly as much patience or tolerance for BS from my family.

After getting my RN license it took me a little over a year to land my first nursing job and I landed in a psych/AOD crisis facility. I definitely lost some of my hard earned medical knowledge in the year it took me to find a job. I too had high anxiety levels those first months and often felt like a real idiot. I still feel that way some days. Even basic information about diabetes and blood pressure problems had partially left my brain. I started writing out notes for myself. For example, for diabetes I made notes about the different kinds, normal/abnormal blood sugars, signs/symptoms, medications, instructions for giving insulin, etc... I did and still do this for any new disease or medical problem that I encounter that I am not familiar with. I review and refer back to my own notes often. As a nurse I do not feel it is essential to know everything, but I do feel it is essential to know where to look to find information when needed. You will encounter many medical conditions when dealing with psych patients and it's good to see that you care about being more knowledgeable.

Working in acute psych will definitely give you the opportunity to practice nursing in a non-judgemental and caring manner to people who are at their worst. It's not as scary as you might think. There are some in the psych profession who are judgemental, seem non caring, and are burnt out, but you will find this in all areas.

At my facility the only reason someone would need to clock in and out for a break is if they were going to go out to smoke. There are some who take a break and go shopping at the mall next to work and they don't have to clock in and out for that. So they are getting paid to shop, not each lunch or take a bathroom break. That doesn't make sense to me. Guess I should have added that in my original post.

No, I was not comparing smoking to eating....really. Of course humans need to eat. I was also not making excuses or trying to justify myself. SMH

Mine is an E-cig and I get them online from a place called Vapor4Life.

If you can swing both jobs I would recommend that. Both positions offer the potential for valuable experience that can be used in any job the future.

You can get electronic cigarettes that have no nicotine in them. My original intention in using them was to slowly decrease the nicotine levels I was using, eventually going to zero nicotine. Alas, haven't been able to get to that zero level yet and still smoke regular cigs at home. It is a nasty habit for sure. I've heard others say that it's harder to quit smoking than it is to quit heroin. Never done heroin so I can't personally vouch for that.

Also wanted to add this. If an employee wants to take a smoke break they are required to clock in and out for that break, and go off the property. If an employee wants to take a regular non smoking break or lunch break they are NOT required to clock in and out for that. Just doesn't make sense.

I reluctantly admit that I am a smoker. My facility does not allow smoking on the property, which I agree with. It is very rare that I have time to take any break, let alone a smoking break. I will take an electronic cigarette to work with me and take a few hits off of it when I go to the restroom. It does not produce smoke so does not leave me stinking like an ashtray but gives me the nicotine that I crave. Just wondering what others' take on electronic cigarettes are?

Directions and rubrics that are not the same? Seems like everything is still clear as mud with the OU nursing program. My heart goes out to all of you. Just keep the end in sight, it will come. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, or so they say. I am extremely glad to be done with this program.

Don't give up Chuckster, you will get that piece of paper. The Hotel California references were good. And to enuf_already, I have the same problem with contractions.

I've been working psych crisis for about a year now and I generally wear scrub pants or jeans with a t-shirt. Several others wear scrub tops and bottoms. I've never had or heard of any patients being agitated due to the nurses wearing scrubs. You definitely don't want to wear really nice clothing in psych units. You will sometimes be on the not so clean floor with patients, deal with restraint issues, deal with occasional blood, urine and feces, be spit on, and be in close contact with patients who have horrible hygiene.

I earned my ADN at 42, my BSN at 44, and will persue my NP soon. I was one of the older ones in my cohorts and didn't really care. I too wasn't there to socialize and make BFF's. Though I did socialize a decent amount and made some good friends in the process. If anything, I think older students have life experience that only adds to their success as a student. I'm betting that the OP will do just fine.

My first RN job was in a Psych/AOD crisis center. I'm still there 9 months later and still like it. It can be very stressful at times but for the most part my stress comes from all the documentation that I can't get done in a timely manner because of such a high census. During my interview they mainly asked me the standard interview questions like "what are your strengths/weaknesses, where do you see yourself in 5 years," etc...The only question that I remember them asking me specifically about psych was something like "what would you do if a patient were getting out of control." I would highly suggest brushing up on de-escalation techniques. You will use these skills all the time when dealing with MH/AOD patients.

Fairyluv - Are you permitted to bring and use your own equipment? If so, I would recommend that you do that, then you won't need to go searching for equipment. It's pretty lousy that your facility only has one set of tools. My facility has a few sets of tools but their reliability is questionable at times. I always keep my own stethoscope and BP cuff handy in case the work ones are acting up.

You will succeed just as those who finished before you did cincinursemary!

I received my diploma this week too. It does feel more official. That's one expensive piece of paper!