Wanderer RN

Thanks to all of you who've posted some really good suggestions. You've expanded my thought horizons with your insights and shared experiences. The more I ponder this decision, the more I feel that it's what I'm really meant to do. Knowing that employers and fellow staff will have my back in tough situations brings peace and comfort. Peace!

LOL! Davey Do, that's too funny! No doubt that'll throw someone off the angry train and crack some smiles!

Funny how this didn't occur to me as I was pondering this issue. I've always told my sons the exact same thing. "Walk away." "Don't feed violence with violence." Not having any real experience yet, I posted this question with scenarios in my mind of what to do in a closed environment. Not wanting to escalate violence, per se, but only prevent any physical injuries. Thanks for speaking up about those who did react physically, and the consequences of their actions. It's certainly food for thought.

Thanks newrpn! I ,too, prefer the intelligent path to de-escalating violence. I speak from very little experience within this field, so I'm trying to gain as much information as I can here before I actually apply for a position. I have never heard of any mental health practitioner speak of self-defense, so I wasn't sure how this subject is viewed within this subculture.

So I'm a new nurse, recently graduated and now working in critical care. There is this persistent calling within me to be a mental health nurse. (Bit of background info; I've always been very interested in the human mind, reading psychology textbooks as pleasure reading.) During my psych rotations in nursing school, we were given a very brief lesson on self-defense for our encounters with a forensic inpatient population in a state hospital. The calling to do mental health nursing grows stronger each day, and I'm wondering if it is wise and/or prudent to learn a few self-defense methods so as to avoid injury that I may or may not encounter in dealing with mentally broken people. Let me make myself clear here. I have absolutely no intention of using violence against any person, patient or otherwise. I'm only interested in keeping my own person safe. If you, or someone you know, is a mental health nurse, have you taken up self-defense courses to prevent bodily harm?

I would think that you should be hired for a per diem position given your experience. It may depend on where you live. I live in a busy eastern shore city, and mental health nurses seem to always be in demand. You could always ask to shadow someone for a day or more, or volunteer at a clinic or other places. Making connections is the name of the game here.

Because no two human beings are exactly the same, no two environments are likely to match what you have now. Study the community and culture of the people whom you now serve on your unit. You may find something comparable in another part of the country with similar cultural, religious, socioeconomic, etc backgrounds. Tribe mentality does affect a populous. I'm not a psych nurse (yet), but if I were in your shoes, I would do my research in various areas relating to how a group of people have historically thought and acted and where the current vibe trends. Good luck!

I'll ask him when we cross that bridge. There's no learning like self-motivated learning, so forcing him to go to public school only for the sake of socialization seems like an academic death sentence for someone used to a home curriculum. He does get social skill experience with people from many different age, gender, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, so I'd say he's far more mature than many of his peers in that respect. When it comes to him associating with his own peers, he views their thought processes from a different perspective than they probably view him from theirs. In other words, homeschooling and its experiences have broadened his world-view more so than many children forced to primarily interact with their peers. I was aware of extended assignments, so that is definitely something I will look into. Thanks for the tip!

Hi, anyone here have firsthand experience traveling with their teen and doing homeschooling? Specifically as a single parent? I'll start traveling when my son is about 16yo. He has been homeschooled since 2nd grade. I've already read Epstein LaRue's experiences through her books "Highway Hypodermics." But she has the help of a spouse. I'd like to get some insight from single parents who've been there, done that, are doing that, or know someone who is. Thanks!

Thanks Soliloquy! Extending a contract was something I had anticipated. How far into your particular program did clinical requirements start? Was it right away, or did you spend a year or more doing research?

Hi All! I have a burning question regarding pursuit of an online DNP (part-time) while working as a travel nurse. I am a newly graduated ADN nurse working toward my BSN. Once I've completed that in the next 2-3 years, I plan on travel nursing. Ideally, I would like to be able to start an online DNP program on a part-time basis as I travel about the country with a realistic completion goal of about 10 years. I plan on paying for the DNP out-of-pocket with my travel pay so I can remain debt-free. Thing is, I haven't heard or read of anyone anywhere with these same ambitions; past or present. My biggest question and biggest concern revolves around DNP clinical requirements. Has anyone heard of travel agencies and/or hospitals working with DNP students in terms of incorporating contractual obligations into clinical requirements? The online DNP studies would be a breeze, but it is the clinical requirements that seem to pose the biggest obstacle for a travel nurse. Your thoughts, insights, and shared experiences are greatly appreciated!!!

I just wanted to add to the current statistical figures for an affirmative count for the accuracy of the P.V. trick. I took my test on 2/20, and tried to schedule myself for a second go-round the same day. The system let me go all the way through to payment method (I entered all the information correctly, EXCEPT the expiration date of my credit card). After entering the payment info and hitting submit, a message popped up saying that I could not register for another exam at that time because I have already been scheduled for one. Since my state board hasn't posted my license, I paid the $7.95 for the quick results and got the affirmative pop-up saying that I've passed. Three days post-test, I still don't have a license number, but as far as the trick theory is concerned, it has worked for me.