smoup

Just curious what patient population everyone works with, or would like to work with.

Thanks everyone! I'll definitely look in to getting some.

Just wondering if any psych nurses have malpractice insurance? Is this something I need to think about getting? I was told conflicting advice in nursing school and am not sure the best course of action. Thanks!

Not as a nurse, but when I was a PT aide I walked to/from work (~0.5 miles) in a blizzard. It was so bad they ended up getting the plows off the road for a period of time. It made for very eerie walking! The walked to/from work for the next 2 weeks as we had back to back blizzards and the road I live on wasn't plowed.

Another new grad who went straight to psych nursing. While it's only been 3 months, I don't see myself regretting my decision. I WOULD have regretted my decision to do med/surg! That's just not me. It's never been me. I've ALWAYS been a "psych" person. No regrets!

Wish I could like this more than once! Can't agree more about the teamwork and trust in coworkers.

Heard this all through nursing school. It's not the clinical skills that are hard, it's everything else. A lot of the clinical skills we do, someone has taught a family member to do to take care of their loved one, or taught the patient themselves. I went straight to psych after graduation. Never planning on working in a hospital setting.

Each shift got food every day. Everything from free breakfast for night shift, to pizza, desserts, wraps, etc.

I know those still waiting are frustrated, but keep in mind that just because no one on Allnurses has had a change in status this week so far, that it doesn't mean no one has received a change in status this week. Allnurses is not the entire population of those who applied by a long shot. Also, everyone is not notified at the same time because they have to manually change every status. That in itself takes time. The more people applied, the longer that will take. Different program have different people reviewing the applications, so they all hear back at the same time either. Again, I know you're frustrated but this is how UMSON does things. I'm sure the riot on Monday didn't help either.

My unit doesn't do this, but you could have the patients give the people they want to be able to get information a "code word" that the caller must give when they call. Not sure how it works since the person could give it to another person. As for if the person is getting upset/angry, you just have to be firm with explaining that you cannot give out any information.

I think of it more as an adjunct. Some psychiatric patients have a mental illness with no behavioral health (acting out) symptoms, such as those with certain types of depression, whereas those with dementia have a psychiatric illness that includes usually includes behavioral health symptoms. Some places are equipped to handle those with behavioral health issues, while others are not.

PinkEagle I am so happy for you!!!

So true Viva. ANY ONE can end up with a mental illness. I really don't understand some people's "get over it" attitude. Have they never experienced mental illness, either personally or someone in their family? What if it happens to one of their kids? It's just sad.

I had the same number of clinical hours for psych as I did for OB, peds, and community. The only clinical that had more was med/surg. It baffles me that some programs have so little exposure to a population that is in so much need.

Interview invitations went out over a week or so period, if I remember correctly. Try not to let the knowledge that someone has an interview and you don't (yet) worry you. I know that's impossible, just trying to help.

I do not think they send out announcements/invitations in alphabetical order. It's random.

Pretty much this. And it hasn't happened yet LOL. I'm only in my first week on the unit though, so in time I'm sure it will.

Two of my classmates were pregnant during adult health/med surg clinical. One of my classmates was pregnant her last semester. It's not an issue if the required classes/clincals can be completed. My advice is to buy cheap scrubs, especially tops, as they are not something you will probably wear after school is over. White tops show EVERYTHING and khaki may or may not be the color your hospital/unit allows for bottoms if there is a dress code. Some places do not have color dress codes so then the khaki bottoms will still be useful. But white tops? Nah. I like my Sketchers GoWalks for shoes. I have a Littmann Classic II stethoscope with my name engraves (that I'll probably never use). I did buy a BP cuff to practice on and will take my own or my dad's blood pressure if needed at home even now. Honestly, I barely ever went to open lab. I'm not sure I'd advise that but had many reasons why. Know your strengths/weaknesses, your future plans, and how you best learn/practice. Definitely a planner. Just like described below. I think I know the exact planner they are talking about and it's truly a must have. I used it all through nursing school. (So glad to be using a normal sized one now!!) Also re: stress. The program (no matter which one) IS possible, no matter what you feel like in the moment. People have finished it before you, so you can finish it also. It's is possible to get A's in all of the classes (and I'm not talking 4.0, though that is possible but definitely not needed). Also, I know there are a few current students in this thread, I cannot stress enough the importance of using your clincals to "sell yourself" if it's a position, unit, hospital, etc. you want to work at. I never thought I'd be one to get a job through networking, just not my thing, but apparently made a big enough impression during clinicals that I have my dream job as my first job. You're always interviewing when you're at clinical.

There were cuss words?

Goodness this all hits home for me! Psych has been my dream job for over half of my life and I am very excited to start working in psych as my first job out of nursing school! Thanks for a great write up!

There are no CNL's at Shady Grove, only Baltimore. From a graduate's perspective, the new program is MUCH better than the old in terms of workload management. I also did the 16 month version so the longer version, as well as different class pairings, looks MUCH BETTER than what I did!

Wanted to add that UMSON - Baltimore does NOT have an "official" Facebook group so you WILL have to make your own. And we were/are all very thankful there is no staff on there

Breakfast is really important and it doesn't take that long to cook up some eggs. How far is your commute/what time are you getting up that 15-30 minutes to get in a healthy breakfast seems like too much? As for lunch, sandwiches, wraps, leftovers, etc. are all things I've taken.

Check NCLEX pass rates. Hopkins is almost 10% higher than Towson. I went to University of Maryland and never even considered Towson because of their pass rate.

I think it has something to do with the month or year you were born. One of my classmates expires this year, most expire next year, and only one that I have noticed expires in two years.