Psych Nursing....Finished!!!

bgm44 · Jul 23, 2004

What exactly did you do in your rotations? What were your responsibilities? Just wondering what I should expect. I will be entering the RN program on Aug 18. I'm excited but really nervous at the same time.

HyperRNRachel · Jul 23, 2004

How was your psych rotation? If there is one area where I am concerned with, it is psych.

Glad you did well.

Rachel

maire, ASN, RN · Jul 23, 2004

Relieved, are you? LOL Most people are. I swear, I must be only one of a handful of folks that actually ENJOYED psych nursing. :lol2:

jschut, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2004

I was relieved when my rotation of psych was over. I was facinated by reading their charts and watching them go through the motions of an illness, but it truly didn't impress me. I guess cause I couldn't "see" the illness enough to fix it, does that make sense?

I'm heading back Aug 23rd to my BSN program and I suppose we'll have psych again, but I would like to know the "why's" and not just watch the "results" of what happens when someone acts this way.....

If I don't eventually make more sense, someone will end up studying me :chair: !

sdg · Jul 23, 2004

I am actually looking forward to psych. It interests me alot, but I am concerned about the unpredictability of patients. Seen too many movies I guess.

FarmgrrlRN · Jul 23, 2004

What exactly did you do in your rotations? What were your responsibilities? Just wondering what I should expect. I will be entering the RN program on Aug 18. I'm excited but really nervous at the same time.

Rotations in psych are different than those in the regular hospital. My instructor had us rotate to the different units (ie Adult, Intensive Treatment(ITP), Child/Adolescent, Case mgmt). When we worked with the pts, we listened to report and then chose potential pts we'd like to speak with. Then we'd go out on the unit and start talking with whoever wanted to talk. Sometimes our potential pts were awake or willing to talk, sometimes not. Of course, we had to complete 1 case study, 2 process recordings (therapeutic communication), and 2 data sheets so we were always looking at their charts. We also had to complete a mini-mental status exam. It was different in that we didn't pass meds or do "technical stuff", it was more focused on honing our communication skills. It was very interesting, especially on the ITP, as there the pts were more acute in their sx and you were more likely to talk with schizophrenic and bipolar pts who were very delusional.

FarmgrrlRN · Jul 23, 2004

I am actually looking forward to psych. It interests me alot, but I am concerned about the unpredictability of patients. Seen too many movies I guess.

Some are unpredicatable but you will learn about safety...for students it means to get out of the way! I only saw one pt get out of control and she threw a 55 gallon trash can b/c she wanted her Ativan. Of course, it would have helped if she had asked first.

FarmgrrlRN · Jul 23, 2004

Relieved, are you? LOL Most people are. I swear, I must be only one of a handful of folks that actually ENJOYED psych nursing.

I guess I am...it wasn't so much the material but probably had more to do with our change in instructors. We made the transition from our 1st year to 2nd yr instructors, so with that came a bunch of stress and a different style of teaching. No more notes for us! We have to do it all ourselves and our psych instructor loves for us to do group activities and for us to play games instead of lecturing. Also, when she does lecture we are not allowed to tape record! She is one of two second year instructors. The other lets us record but she doesn't give us notes either. From what I understand she also speaks very fast.

I wanted to relax on this break but it feels like I should already be studying!