Psych home care

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I have seen job postings for "psych nurse" with home care. Could anyone fill me in to what is involved with this type of job? I have worked homecare with clinets who are developmentally disabled and on a Acute Rehab for 20 yrs. I am not sure what background and experience is needed. Any info about your daily routine would be appreciated.

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Specializes in psychiatric nursing.

I'm interested in this area too. I have not seen any of these types of jobs in my area though.

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Specializes in Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Nursing.

Psych homecare may seem easy because you just give meds and go, but the trade off is that there is increased danger. My co-worker went in to wake up her long time patient in his apartment to refill his med box and he pointed a gun on her as he came from the other room. He was psychotic and she did not pick up on it. Fortunately, he did not shoot her. Scary stuff.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

Yes to what xenogenetic said! I work psych in patient and love love love my work. But I'm not sure id want to go to psych Pts homes.... That's a different animal. At work, most of the time, there's 1 other nurse on duty. Even when there isn't, we have wonderful floor staff as mental health techs, who totally have my back, in the event of assaultive/ aggressive bx.

If you've worked psych and understand and are comfortable with the dangers, then id say there's a possibility for you to take the position.

If you haven't, I would say it may not be a safe position to accept.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

Did it for years as part of a psychiatric home care team.

Some people with schizophrenia or BPD, but more often depressed or over anxious little old ladies. Never threatened or endangered. loved it! It really provided the opportunity to make a difference in their lives.

in the hospital you are sometimes a cog in the wheel of the machine, while going into someone's home and helping them stay out of the hospital, Lots of teaching, lots of supportive care.

however it really isn't a job for anyone who's not an experience, highly skilled psych nurse already

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