giantumbrella

I'm a new grad and have been working night shifts for about 2 months and I love it! The night staff is like a family, we understand and look out for each other. It is much more quiet and slower paced so you won't feel as overwhelmed. Black out curtains are a MUST! You'll do great on nights!

Thank you all very much for such uplifting words. I'm a very novice nurse and sometimes second guess my abilities, and somehow I let this upset me. Just reading encouraging words really helps, thank you all very much! Im going to go into my next shift with my head held high and a smile on my face just like I've done everyday in the past! But, I won't lie, I hope that patient is discharged by then, but if not I'll still care about/for him even if he thinks I'm terrible :)

I work on a medical psych unit, and a patient reported me to the nurse manager, I feel horrible about it. He said I was incompetent and started pointing at me in front of everyone, which caused me to feel incredibly embarrassed. I went to take his vital signs and the bp cuff was too small for his arms. I told him I'd be back in a few minutes to retake it, and he asked me to "make it quick" so he could relax. I went to take one more patients vitals, then got a bigger cuff (about 4 min) and when I came back, he told me he had enough and for me to leave. I respected his space and left, but then 15 minutes later I went to take his blood sugar and he told me off and reported me to the charge nurse. The charge nurse just walked by me and made a face like she was annoyed with him (not in the patients view) but I still feel stupid. In report, everyone was told the story and how the patient hated me. I'm really new, and very frustrated, anyone have any advice? I used to love psych nursing, but after today, I feel like everyone was talking about me, and I feel insure and self conscious.

"you were supposed to be here 10 minutes ago. We're short staffed today so.... What? Well, go get report, what are you waiting for?"

I just recently started working on a medical psych unit as a care partner and honestly, I love it so far. The patients are interesting, the staff is nice and caring, and there's always something interesting going on. I'm also unsure about whether I'll become a psych nurse after I graduate, but i'm thinking about it. Nothing bothers me more than when people say that psych nursing either breeds lazy or crazy, it is so not true! I love love love my unit, and I don't feel crazy OR lazy!

Did anyone make coffee? Looks like it's gonna be a long day.

Can I get a contact precaution gown over here, I don't want what he's got.

Sir, I can't have you walking around the unit without your nonslip socks on, you appear to be slippery and at risk for falls.

Would you like your sponge bath now, or after lunch?

I'll have the tech bring you some tissues.

Note to self, don't order the jello-0

I am a nursing student and just accepted my first medical related job as a care partner on a medical psych unit. I'm really excited about it, but everyone else seems to think I'm crazy ( no pun intended) I'm so glad to read this and see that you enjoy it, because I find psych nursing to be fascinating! On my unit we have portable panic buttons and security close by, so just that alone gives me peace of mind! Thank you for your thoughts, I don't care what anyone says, psych is interesting!

My advice is to not let them freak you out too much. It is hard and time consuming, but it is also incredibly rewarding, fun, and very interesting! They just want you to be prepared and to take it seriously from the start. Don't worry, just study, pay attention, and enjoy your education!!

I was set on putting my dating life on hold when I first entered nursing school. It's incredibly demanding on you time and energy , and couldn't imagine fitting a boyfriend into that. But, at the end of my second semester, I started dating another nursing student in my program, and you know what? It works! We both know how demanding school is, and both feel the same stress and constraints so we're very understanding of each other. I consider myself a very lucky girl to have met him!