psych nursing interview - HELP HELP HELP

[edie1]

I have a psych nursing interview and I am in a panic - HELP! I have lots of med surg experience and a degree in psychology as well as nursing - help me sell myself - I really want this job(i think).THANK YOU!!!!!

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Brush up on therapeutic communication techniques, limit setting, deescalation, common psych illnesses, common psychotropics and side effects, s&s of serious adverse effects such as neuroleptic malignant syndrome, EPS, etc. and how you would treat them. Be prepared for a few situational/behavioral questions, such as what you would do if you see a patient's behavior escalating rapidly.

Key point: the number one priority is always patient safety.

Key point 2: remember that the psych patient retains all the rights that a med-surg or any other patient has, including the right to refuse treatment and medications, even if they are involuntarily committed or under a temporary hold. Meds can be given against the patient's will if the patient is an imminent danger (key words) to themselves and/or others. Otherwise, only a court order can force treatment/meds on them.

Best of luck.

[edie1]

oh meriwhen thank you so much - i am feeling like an incompetent child . Thank you Thank you :)))

edie

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

In addition, know the difference between Axis 1, Axis II; and some familiarity with diagnoses...schizophrenia vs bipolar vs major depression for instance. Attitude, teamwork, williness to learn, appropriate assertiveness, all matter a whole lot to me. I wouldn't mind if you can't differentiate the types of schizophrenic types, or why medication a would be better than b in a particular case, as long as you possessed a good basic overview of the classes of meds (antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics)

Good luck.

[edie1]

THANK YOU MrChicagoRN

yall are amazing and i REALLY appreciate the help!!!!!

[edie1]

hey MrChicagoRN

i just re-read your advice - you are a nursing care coordinator or nurse manager or supervisor or director or whatever they are called now huh? :)

[livert24]

My advice would be to STOP WORRYING SO MUCH!! You obviously have the credentials to be an amazing psych nurse, and most interviews I have had for psych units and been like any other nursing interview except with a question about therapeutic communication, which you know about. You'll do great.