Psyche Nursing

pagandeva2000, LPN · May 6, 2007

I worked psych as an aide, which, of course is totally different from nursing. What I found is that it may be frustrating to deal with the patients because their reality is not yours, and then, there are some nurses that have really lost their skills in bedside nursing behind working there. One of the advantages of nursing these days is that there are many choices to choose from, and one man's poison may be another one's perfect cup of tea. Violence was not as common as I expected it to be, but when it does happen, get out of the way. You will have to be prepared to administer IM medications at any given time. Some patients are manipulative, so don't play favorites. They may even tell you factual things that other co-workers have said, but not in YOUR best interest, but THEIRS. This is not to say that I am against psych nursing; just things to watch out for.

Fiona59 · May 7, 2007

Did Geri-Psych and its draining. If it's not your patient, its their family playing head games with you.

What I remember from my psych clinicals were street clothes, boredom(both mine & the patient), and just wanting out of there.

BigB · May 7, 2007

I like psych. You don't have to be crazy to work this area of nursing, but I supose it helps. You just have to be on your toes and expect anything. Everyday is something new. Psych is never the same thing.

feisty_lpn, LPN · May 7, 2007

I loved working in psych! When our facility closed thanks to the state budget cuts in 2005, I bawled for 3 days. There was never a dull moment. Of course, you'll have your PITAs who try every trick under the sun to get what they want (from narcs to money to cigarettes and soda)... really have to stand your ground and stay on your toes. And you'll have patients that you will remember fondly for the rest of your life.

One of mine swore up and down that the only place to get hamburgers was in Heaven. So if "hamburger" was on the menu for the day, we had to spend our entire shift telling this man... "No, you are not dead. No, you are not in Heaven. And, no, I'm not an angel and the doctor is not God". LMAO

Another patient was a former "fire and brimstone" minister. If the facility minister could not perform Sunday morning, he took it upon himself to fill-in. Dressed up, Bible in hand, used a bath basin for an offering plate (they never had any money on their person LOL)... the whole deal. When he was finished preaching to the patients, he would come up to the nurses' station and say "All of you are whores and I am here to save your souls". LOL Amazingly, after his "fire and brimstone" sermons, the floor was quiet until dinner time.

I miss that place.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 7, 2007

I was a medication nurse at a psych hospital last year. Most psych hospitals utilize LVNs strictly as medication nurses. You will likely not be a part of the admission process, therapy, or group meetings. However, psych nursing was fun.

Fiona59 · May 7, 2007

I think it really depends on where you work.

Locally, PNs lead therapy groups (sat in on a group led by an awesome PN), can take advanced training in mental health issues, and do close observation on the 72hr hold unit. and we do admit. I did close observation duties on a senior who wound up in the regional geri-psych unit.

Scope varies so much that it's best to check with local health authorities rather than rely on us for all the facts.

feisty_lpn, LPN · May 7, 2007

In the psych facility I worked, LPNs did everything... from admittance to discharge. There was one RN in the building at all times... all other nurses were LPNs. We worked very closely with their doctors and social workers. We were far from being "just a med passer".

Butterflybee · May 9, 2007

Thank you for all of your replies. You have given me a good idea of it. I dont want to lose my "bedside" nursing skills though. Maybe i could work part time psyche and also at another place where i can still practice them since i am just starting out.

pagandeva2000, LPN · May 9, 2007

The only thing I would worry about these days is being attacked by patients. This does not happen frequently, so, I don't want to scare anyone out of it, but, at this point in my life, I don't have it in me for the mental games. I worked in psych as an aide for many years. I remember one guy that used to throw feces up to the ceiling making it as flat as a pancake. We used to wear shower caps over our hair to avoid the mess. Not fun. But we had other funny ones that I'll never forget. But, I was ready to move on. It takes a special nurse to remain in psych. If you go, you are still contributing to nursing to those that need you (even if they don't realize it).

pagandeva2000, LPN · May 9, 2007

Thank you for all of your replies. You have given me a good idea of it. I dont want to lose my "bedside" nursing skills though. Maybe i could work part time psyche and also at another place where i can still practice them since i am just starting out.

I always do say that the second job for the nurse should be something that does not always require too much physical labor. That would be a great choice to consider, also.

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · May 9, 2007

I think it really depends on where you work. I worked psych for about a year and as aPN, I lead one of the therapy groups. It was so much more than just being a "pill pusher". As someone else mentioned, scopes varies so much that it's best to check with your state board. I'm in hospice now, but if I ever decide to leave, I'd go back to psych in a heartbeat!