psychnurse2016

I can only say this "SUN DOWNING" If having 10 patients all begin to exhibt sun downing behavior in unison as easy...whats your secret...lol! Day one on my old unit I was strangled by an elderly woman with my lanyard that was around my neck...because no one told me to take it off before I got off the elevator. lol!

I worked on a lock down psych unit at a county rehabilitation center for 5 years as a CNA, we encountered just as much if not more than our supervising nurses. I have dealt with everything from Alzheimer/Dementia, Picks Disease, Manic, Psychosis, Multiple Personality etc. It is what helped me to make my decision to become a RN with an emphasis of Psychiatric Nursing.

I recognized nursing was a calling when I at the age of 14 had to care for my chronically ill mother. Upon her transition from this world, I felt a void in my life...yes, I had lost my mother..but I felt like I had lost a piece of my purpose as well. So i got a job at a Long Term Care Facility as a Service Tech aka Feeder and Housekeeper. I began to feel purpose coming back to me as I engaged with the elderly and those sick, to the point I went to school to become a CNA. Upon becoming a CNA they had transferred me to the Psych Unit. It was there I learned that it takes a special person to care and treat another person...My Pastor always says if you feel led to do something, go on and do it...even if you have to do it afraid. I went ahead and went to work on the Psych Unit...and it was there I knew I was called to psychiatric nursing. I have been told there is no money in being a psych nurse. But the feeling I get when I engage a patient the world has written off because of a changed mental status, makes my decision to go this route all worth it. I look forward to my future in this field and what will come to those I encounter.