Psych Pet Peeve

[Mashira]

What is your pet peeve with staff or patients?

Mine... when on the report sheet or on the board, they write "BPD" to signify Bipolar Disorder, Axis I. "BPD" is the abbreviation for Borderline Personality Disorder, an Axis II Dx, and it drives me NUTS!

[twinkerrs]

Nurses who chart based on dx and don't even know which patient is which.

Nurses or techs who escalate instead of deescalate

[Jules A, MSN]

A lot of Psych Nurses have a tendency to give a report on a Patient as though they were gossiping about some Soap Opera Character. "He/She did this? Do you believe it?"

This type of Interaction usually tkes the Soap Opera Drama out of the Mix. As a certain Psych Nurse once said, "Save the Drama for your Mama".

Dave

Dang Davey Do if it weren't for the entertaining reports to cut the tension and shed some humor on the very sad reality I'd have to become an OR nurse.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

The soap opera thing bothers me sometimes too, but then I remember that it's a way to blow off some steam in difficult situations...

[sharpeimom]

one aide in particular drove me up a wall. she'd come to me and say something like, "___ is acting strange." me: "how is he acting? give me some examples of what he's doing and how he's behaving."

aide: "i don't know... just weird." unfortunately, i'm like the national enquirer. enquiring minds

want to know. details would be nice! even though i do make frequent rounds and talk with each

patient (if they're able), and closely observe if they aren't, i really do need to know what you've seen

too. doesn't mean i've spent the shift with my feet propped up reading. acting weird...aaurrggghh!

[Teddy McLean, RN,BSN]

Use all of your skills, check vital signs, amount of engagement with others, body language and don't forget the 5th vital sign, ask a client to rate their pain. If you notice any incongrueties tell them what you are observing but also make suggestions on how you can help them alievate their pain by offering comfort measures or solicite from the client what has helped them in the past. Avoid confrontation if you can. Sometimes clients just want to talk about their fears or conflicts. A little one on one time can often be what they really need and they are not aware of it.

[Thanet]

Not just in nursing but anywhere...

People who get ETC and ECT mixed up.

[msnurselady]

How about walking on the unit at midnight to find a psychotic pt with ah/vh up and about "chasing their baby" in and out of other pt's room. The reporting RN states, " Oh, I gave them benadryl", when asked what the pt had received for psychosis.

[Shanna M]

I will put "Pt has been out in social areas and interactions are appropriate" or "Pt isolates to self when in social areas" or "Pt has been isolative to room the entire shift" never seen anyone report visible on the unit before.