about to do my psy rotation....

I just finished a psych rotation at a state hospital for the criminally insane. At least you won't be talking to murderers (hopefully) ... :chuckle

But seriously ... it was one of the most fascinating rotations I've done. I absolutely loved it. (although an RN got stabbed by a patient on one of the days we were there ... luckily in a unit different from ours).

Read your psych books on how to interview patients. It really did help me avoid some potential pitfalls. Like: a patient came up to me and asked if I believed in God. Talk about a dicey question. So ... I just followed the books and asked: what do you believe? It worked very well.

Just remember: it's about the patient, not you. Keep the focus on the patient and you should be fine. The students who got in trouble were the ones who made the process more about themselves than the patient.

:typing

heaverboo2006,

We find ourselves in the same situation. I have orientation to my psych facility this Friday.

Today in class we began the new semester with a lecture on building a therapeutic relationship. We also discussed how to keep ourselves safe. Some points brought up in lecture included, never wander off alone, always go with someone or at the very least let someone know where you are going, never let the pt get between you and the exit (always have a clear path to the door), we will be allowed to put tape over our last name on our id badges, NEVER EVER give any personal information to the pt about yourself (our instructor said that the pts. can be very sneeky in trying to get this info from you).

There is actually a post in this forum titled keeping yourself safe, sorry I don't know how to make a link to it, but it gives basically the same information. I think lizz is exactly right in mentioning you should read and be ready for certain situations, like pt. giving a story and saying what should I do... turn it around and say well what do you think you should do. After all our goal is to give them the confidence they need to be as self-reliant as possible. Good luck and keep us posted!

I have been working is Psychiatry for 25 years.

Your fears are very common. Many years ago I actually produced an information pack for nurses starting their Psychi rotation

Please remember that the nurses on the ward will have been there several years and will know the patients very well. They will give you a quick rundown on each patient and they will tell you any important things you need to know.

You will NOT meet 'Freddy Kruger, Dr Jekell and Mr Hyde or Lizzy Borden'

You will just meet folk who have Mental Health problems.

25% of the population will have some form of MH problem at some time in their life... including you, me and the next door neighbour.

You should already know the first rule of nursing... If you don't know, ask!

and that is the same in psychi too.

Most of the populations only 'contact' with psychiatry is the headline in the local newspapers or on the news... 99% of the clients are NOT like that.

I have had some good fun with the clients, been to the pub with them for a pint, gone shopping with them, seen their new baby when the return to see us. etc etc

Yes I have had some scary times too, but there again if you can handle patients comming out of anaesetics, or comming into A&E (ER to the americans) you will be OK.

Something my grandmother once told me... 'Never talk about sex, politics or religion in public'.. same can be said in pschi too.

One of the joys I have with Psychi rotation nurses is to try to get them to change their choice of career and come into psychi

Well, I've talked to much already.

if you want to PM me feel free to do so.

Enjoy your rotation... it will be fun.

thanks for the advice. i am about to start my psych rotation in three weeks. i feel a bit better now.

Update....

Hey today I was oriented to the facility that we will be doing the Psych rotations. Not to fear, the staff was very resourceful and friendly. I think I will have a wonderful experience. I hope the same is true for everyone else as well.

I ended up getting hired on to the psych unit I did my clinical rotation at. I am still in school (a senior) but work there on call as a MHA about 2-3x per week.

I was apphrehensive at first too, but LOVE it there!

~J