ear

I am starting 12/1 as well. I have already been working on nutrition :)

The beauty of NJ is there are so many differnt types of living. Do you want to be close to the ocean? Do you want to be close to NYC (or Philly) but in a more suburban area? Do you want to be in the country? There are a lot of options here. What are you looking for?

I am talking about psychiatric units.... All contraband, drugs, weapons, alcohol, items that can be used as weapons.... What are your indicators for search?

Hi all, I am trying to see how far others go with a patient search for contraband. What do you do, how far do you search, what area are you working in (inpatient, ed, outpatient) Do you have/use metal detecters/wands? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks, ear

I just took the certification exam this past year. I carried around the study guide, thinking I was going to take the test a couple of years ago. Life got in the way though. They changed the test this year, so I scrambled to get it done while I still had the material. I enjoyed learning, I am keeping up with CEU's, and have since started school for the PMHNP program. I love learning, and when something sparks an interest, I really enjoy it.

Drexel, PMHNP program. Just the two classes I took put a lot of pressure on me. But, hey, it was fun! It showed me how strong I could be. The professors are great. It will be a little time before I start clinicals, but I am determined to stay with the "suggested" route, and finish. Life happens no matter what we do right?

You can do this!! We "spoke" back in September. I started this past fall, and it is a handful! I was working crazy amounts of hours, and taking two classes.. Got a little behind, pulled by hours back to 3 nights, got cought up, then Sandy hit. I have my girls do "homework" with me, so we are all at the table working. I still feel like we spend time together, and for the most part I can concentrate. Get going with it now. I am actually thinking about cutting down to 1 class in January, but I am going to see how my grades turn out first. I am terrified of failing... Good Luck!!

I'm not from that area, but my barents were both in Wake Med. The trauma center was amazing, and to be accepted there is awesome. You will get boatloads of experience in that environment! Afer a couple of years and you want something more "mellow" you can always change hospitals. Good luck!

I am 43, and just going into my 1 quarter this fall. I really hope it is not to old or I am in trouble!! :rotfl: Are there jobs for FNP's in your area? I know we are saturated in my area, I know a few people who are still working at bedside because they cant find work as a FNP. I am doing this because I want to, and like someone else said, you will be that old either way! I am not sure why it will be taking 7 years. I am in a 2 1/2 year program, it is part time. I have up to 7 years to comlpete it if I need to slow down. (and do you really mean we are going to be 50 in 7 years?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Drexel University Psychiatric Mental Health NP Working FT ( psychiatric ER and per diem inpatient ) School is considered a part time program. (yeah right) As for my feelings, I am scared to death, and really really excited! Contrats everyone!

I am going to be doing this with three, (4 y/o and 3y/o twins) I want to do this now, so I am not "competing" with homework. I want to be there with my kids through their school. I have a FT job (40hours) and per diem as well. I am not sure how it will all work out, but I know it will. Good luck to us!!

I just rec'd my acceptance letter. I am in! PMHNP program. anyone else?

drexel in pa has one. you have to have licensure somewhere in the area though (pa, nj, de, md, and i think va.) for clinicals, and you have to be at the school a couple of times a year. i am not sure where you are, but are there not any programs more local to you? i am limited with my ba in my area, many schools are requiring a bsn, as opposed to the ba. there are several schools here who will happily do a bridge program (for the low, low price of anywhere from 12 -18 credits before entering an msn...) i saw a couple of other programs.... i just googled it, i think somewhere in alabama? then one in the midwest somewhere. it was a couple of years ago that i searched. one program that i was eligible for has now discontinued it though.... good luck, and if you find something let me know please.... always need a back up plan! as for your other question, it seems as though that would be an awful lot of extra work....lol...

My whole life I have gotten the look. I worked 15 years as a social worker in a nursing home. I got "the look" then. I was young, energetic, and working with an end of life population. Now, working in psych as a nurse, I get "the look". I giggle, and am very thankful that I am not working in their area. I have always loved psych. My undergrad degree is in psych. I rarely ever notice "the look" anymore.

The inpatient unit is using it a bit. The biggest problem I am seeing with it is the expense, they cant afford it, and thus, noncompliant.

We are not supposed to wear scrubs. Working in the psych er, they want us to be more casual. I wont wear slacks and blouse, too nice to get messed up. I ususally wear some sort of cargo pant, with a print shirt and a nicer hoodie (not the sweatshirt material) Every once in a while, I wear a long skirt and top.

Yes, I am prepared.... but I work in a psychiatric crisis unit We get where they are located at the time. Sometimes people dont want to say, so it makes it a little difficuclt. Most business phone lines have some sort of caller ID. I ususally grab that number, then search for a reverse look up to see if I can find the number. If the caller actually gives a name, I can look up their medical record. All while talking to the caller and assessing what is going on. I work nights, so sometimes there are only a couple of other people working with me. I ususally somehow get their attention, and they are on standby to contact police. The police go out and pick up the caller and take them to an ER for evaluation. It is really hard to ask a suicidal caller to hold on, and have them talk to someone else. That first contact, and who they are talking to makes a difference. If they have developed a relationship with who ever picks up the phone, then get transferred, it might (or might not) upset them. I know on our unit, they secretaries are not allowed to answer the phones because of this reason. You may want to ask the local crisis unit to come out and give an inservice on how to handle these calls. They may be able to give you (and the staff there) a little more knowledge to make you guys more comfortable with handling these types of calls. (not that it is EVER comfortable!!)

Have you tried actually going to the SNF's in person and fillinf out an application? I HATE HATE HATE online applications! If you go in person, there may be someone available to talk to you then, bring your resume, look your best, and go in with a good attitude! Good Luck to you!

I am going to be stalking this thread. I just purchased the ANCC book, and am planning on taking the exam in the next 4-6 months. I did a search for online questions, and I did come up with a few sites, but I am just not sure how reliable they are. Does the ANCC have another module of questions? Is the online module self study, or is it a specific time? When are you planning on taking the exam? Good Luck to you! and keep us posted!!

I have always mixed the haldol and ativan. Benadryl is seperate.

We had a risk manager in one of my facilities. It was a part time position, and the facility was about 115 beds. She reviewed all incident reports, followed up with completion. She made all reports to state and ombudsman, investigated every event. She really loved it, and it worked out well for the facility, the DON/ADON were free to deal with other things. Good Luck, and hope you enjoy it!!

I love my job! I work in psych ER. It is never the same, more acute than inpatient. Sometimes we know what may come in the door next, sometimes we dont. Perhaps inpatient psych isnt for you, or, as others have said, try a different shift.

First off, I am so sorry for your loss. You can, and will walk into another room. I lost my brother this summer. He died suddenly, one day shy of his 38th birthday. There was no reason, autopsy reports didnt clarify anything. I traveled 600 miles the night before to see my family for his birthday, and mothers day. I spoke to him that morning. We were all at my parents house waiting for his family to come over for dinner. They never showed up, he never came home from work. They found him in a bathroom in a store. He was an amazing guy, he had a wife, three children, (6,3 and 2 months) He had such a zest for life. He was a jokester, and would give anyone the shirt off his back. He adored his wife and couldnt get enough of his children. Have every reason in the world to live. I tell you this about him because I work in a psychiatric emergency room. Yes, we get very sick, psychotic patients. But, we also get our share of malingering. We get those who have druged themselves into trouble, and need a place to "hide out" for a few days, or other rediculous reasons they feel the need to be hospitalized. Yes, they tell me with a straight face that they are suicidal, and I know they are lying, but they say what they have to. I knew I needed to get help. I needed to be able to reason through, and learn how to cope with these people. I knew I was going to explode and yell at them all. So, I made two calls when I got home from my brothers funeral. 1 to a MD, for a full physical (yes, I am still worried that I might drop dead any second) and 2 to a therapist. I needed to get my head on straight before I would be able to help others through their hardships. One of my first patients that I had was there because he was severly depressed.... he had just lost his brother. That was hard. I was professional, and I felt for him. More than anyone else on my unit could at that point. I went on break and cried. You do need time to greive, and you do need support. I am much more mindful than I have ever been. I hope you find your peace....

This was what I first thought (other than write an incident report, and discuss with the manager of the unit- That Dr. put WAY too many people at risk!!!) Are there really people admitted without PRN orders, especially when someone has a history of psychosis and dangerous behavior? We have a standard form for orders, then write in whatever else the Dr. may order, along with the med rec. This is one of the reasons there are so many assaults in our field.

As far as the danger, I am really protected. If someone does come in extremely violent, they are usually coming in with the police. They really do a great job being there until we get things under control. Security is great where I am too, they get what we do. Complaits range anywhere from suicide attempts, severe decompensation, to "Im depressed and just want to talk to someone" to parents bringing their children in because they wont listen. I really enjoy the range, and it is different every day. Just dont take things personally. I get yelled at, called all sorts of names, threatened. I have never been physically assaulted, although some people on my unit have. Just always watch your back. Dont ever underestimate a patient. (but that is all stuff you do anyway!) Good luck! Keep me posted on how you like it!!