MMC.RN

GBW is generalized body weakness and DHN is dehydration.

I would love to find one of these, "easy," jobs as well. I work max security forensic psych admission. Our patients are acutely psychotic and some of the most dangerous in the state, especially since they are unmedicated or undermedicated and oftentimes non-compliant. Its either that or they have a personality disorder and are manipulative and staff-splitting or attention-seeking. Our patients have or potentially have a myriad of different issues. Tonight alone , I had 4 seclusions, I didn't even have enough rooms on the unit, a patient in 5 point restraints, 5 patients on suicide precautions which require extra charting, 4 patients who claimed to have, "medical issues," that needed additional assessment and 2 of these patients were hyperverbal and manic and 1 was somewhat disorganized and with psychotic features. We had an admission from the AM that needed for a paperwork finished, he was a surprise ED. I was the only nurse with 4 support staff. This is a typical shift. Plus I had administrative weekend paperwork that I didn't finish yesterday and end of the month things to finish as well. I was there all weekend as the only nurse on two double shifts and we were busy and short staffed all weekend. Yes, psych is SO easy. I would love to see nurses who work med-surg or some other specialty do my job. I can't even explain to someone what it's like. It can be overwhelming, there's no set protocol like there is for an IV insertion or other medical procedures and there is no right or wrong answer, it's up to the Nurse to make a judgment call, and it's not always the right one.

He had the pen in his room and we finally were able to get an order to monitor him on camera. We saw him take out the rocks and use them otherwise we never would've known.

I work in the same type of setting although I work in admissions and I tend to work with competency and assessment patients. Most of our patients come in to either be assessed to be sure they are competent to stand trial or if not they are sent back to us to be treated to competency.

I had a patient hide little rocks from the courtyard in a safety pen. He would cut himself and we would never be able to figure out where he got anything to do it with even after multiple room searches.

I work on a maximum security forensic psych admissions unit with approximately 20 patients. We will typically have 1 nurse (sometimes 2) and anywhere from 4-6 techs depending on acuity.

I work forensic psych in max security and at times I am the only nurse with 4-5 support staff and 20 or so patients.

Risperdal Benztropine Ativan Seroquel Zyprexa Forensic Psych RN

Yes, I'm not going to lie and say it was easy, but it wasn't as difficult as I thought it was going to be. I thought I had to always get things correct, but it is first and foremost a learning experience so take it as that. You may feel overwhelmed and out of your element and that is normal. My advice is to get the most out of it as you can. Every nurse has been through it and most are understanding. I personally love to teach especially if the student is willing to learn. Be open to new experiences, even if the specialty is not your favorite. There is something to be learned from every clinical. Good luck to you!

You could potentially take out her age, just say young female in her 20's or even just young female. In addition, state she had her g-tube placed in February, an exact date is unnecessary. I wouldn't necessarily say it would be easy to identify her, but better be safe than sorry! I agree with the PP, you are on the right track, but are missing a few interventions related to the g-tube. In addition, research ways to assist with clearing secretions. Sometimes care plan books do not encompass everything.

I work forensic psych in a mental health facility and I pick up extra hours at the state correctional facility. I like it, personally and I can't see myself doing anything else. I like the autonomy I have and I like the challenge of working with a challenging population. I also enjoy the unpredictability that comes with the territory. It's a different type of nursing for sure, but I knew fairly early on that med-surg and the, "typical," nursing job was not right for me. I am more than happy with my decision.

Thank you for the advice! Nope, we don't have 18 gauges on our unit, however I asked for them on a recent supply order. However, we don't have needles that you can change for injections, what you draw it up in is what you give it with. Usually it would be just myself and her along with 4-5 techs. She micromanages them as well, however as she is not as familiar with their job, which she really should be she's not as bad. Our unit manager and other clinical staff are there intermittently throughout the shift. Everyone sees it, at least I would hope, although no one does anything about it. Over the last week or so I have documented EVERYTHING, as have all of our other nurses. We are sick of covering for her. I most definitely am, especially after last week. She called administration one morning to let them know I wasn't on the unit in the nursing station at 0700. I was in the building, there was an admission coming in and all of the gates were closed so I had to make a detour which took an extra 10 minutes. Yes, I admit I was running a little later than usual, but had I not hit that unexpected snag I would've been more than on time. However, due to this I walked on the unit at 0701 (I checked my phone) and now that, "late," arrival is on my record. I was not the only one, "late," that day half of our unit was delayed. I called and explained the situation to admin and they told me we should prepare for that possibility which means getting to work almost 25-30 min early instead of just 15-20 before my scheduled shift now to get through security and plan for any unforeseen events! It just irks me that she can, "take a break," for an hour or more and do nothing most of the day and she won't allow a little leeway for something like that. I never call admin unless it's been 10 min or more. Sometimes there are security things or admissions coming that cause delays throughout the building. We don't get paid extra to come in 30 min early so if you're a few min late because of that so be it. Sorry, rant over!

Nope! Not going to risk my license. I worked way too hard to do ruin it with something so trivial. If another nurse wants to indulge, and isn't under the influence while practicing that is up to them and I won't judge!

I know you are in Canada, I am a forensic psych nurse in the States and this is what I do. Our unit has three different types of patients: assess for competency, treat to competency, and our NGRI or Not Guilty by Mental Disease or Defect. Our assessment patients stay for two weeks or so and we assess them to see if they are fit to stand trial. A lot of times we have malingerers who try to act like they have a mental illness. Fortunately, they're usually pretty easy to spot. Our treatment patients stay for up to a year. We medicate them , treat them, and teach them adjudicative terms so that they will be ready to stand trial. Lastly, our NGRIs who have been sentenced to our facility because they were convicted but not criminally responsible. Just because you have an NGRI doesn't mean you get to, "walk away." If the crime is serious enough, you will get sent to a locked psych facility. In the States, you can petition q6months to be conditionally released. This is based on behavior and treatment length as well as the nature of the crime. The person has to be considered stable and no longer a danger to others. To get an NGRI, at the moment you committed your crime you have to have an active mental illness and not understand the consequences of your actions. We tend to have a lot of individuals who committed homicide, however were actively psychotic and don't remember doing it. This doesn't mean that a person who has schizophrenia, was medicated and then murdered someone knowing what you were doing would get an NGRI. In this case, they would be held criminally responsible. We also have a lot of patients who have personality disorders such as antisocial and borderline at our facility for this. I think the topic you chose is broad. Perhaps condense it to should individuals with personality disorders or another mental illness be held responsible? It is a very controversial topic and there is a lot of research out there on it especially with personality disorders.

It is an interesting topic, but again like PP have said, it would be difficult to research and is way too broad. I am a psych nurse. I am dx with Bipolar II disorder, an eating disorder, and most recently PTSD. I know, I sound like a hot mess and it took me awhile to accept the fact that I do have issues and now I wouldn't have it any other way. Well, that's not exactly true but I've learned to live with my illnesses and am learning to accept myself for what I am. Anyway, my experiences are the reason I got into psych nursing. I feel like it's more helpful than a hindrance.