Psychiatric Nursing Differences?!

Thanet · Jul 14, 2008

I just started my new psych RN position, and am surprised at some of the differences from med/surg.

Yes there are many differences between med/ surg. and psych ... that is why we have specialist nurses for each

Seems none of the nurses actually assess the patients (other than a few questions)
As previously pointed out by others the patients are assessed
[/quote=medsurgrnco;2846257]]and no one uses double-checks to make sure they are giving the medications to the correct patients (who do not wear namebands or allergy bands).

I think what you need to realise in this case is that we do not have such a high turnover of patients as they do on med/surg wards. Most of our patients are being treated at least a month or two at a time often more.

There is a patient on my ward I first met when I started training 26 years ago and she is not allowed to be discharged without the approval of the 'Home Office' (Central Government)

I think I'll really like psych, but am pretty appalled at the laxness of other nurses. Is this typical of psych?

medsurgrnco, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2008

I asked when I started this thread if other psych units were similar to what I noticed at my facility. I did not ask for others to tell me what I should do, as if I don't know the difference between med/surg and psych patients.

S.N. Visit, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2008

My unit nurses always assess pt's before med pass. We or at least I always triple check my meds, MAR & pt's ID bands..we do a mini physical assessment ( Skin, Lung sounds, Heart sounds, Bowel sounds, edema , & pain.) q shift, as well as a more comprehensive mental/gait assessment. Our patients are acute, but we have 12 hours to fully assess our pt's.

So no, not all units are like your facility.

Jules A, MSN · Jul 17, 2008

I asked when I started this thread if other psych units were similar to what I noticed at my facility. I did not ask for others to tell me what I should do, as if I don't know the difference between med/surg and psych patients.

Huh?

I don't think any of the replies you got were harsh or bossy despite your condescending tone in the OP. I thought it was an interesting look into how different facilities do things. But then again I'm just an appallingly lax psych nurse with clients who don't wear ID bands.

:confused:

laketrash · Jul 17, 2008

I asked when I started this thread if other psych units were similar to what I noticed at my facility. I did not ask for others to tell me what I should do, as if I don't know the difference between med/surg and psych patients.

Wow, how come you got all defensive? Seems that you started off negative with your asumptions your co-workers were not properly doing their jobs, yet you came from med surg?{which is a lot the same but a whole lot different from psych nsg.I agree with pineyrn, that is how I approach my pts and it works for me and them,

aloevera · Jul 17, 2008

We all tried to be of help to the original OP....I see no posts that should have upset the OP....maybe the OP needs to confront her employer about her situation, seems something must be going on there to get her so defensive and confrontational.....

Address these problems with your nurse manager/supervisor.....

just my .02

medsurgrnco, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2008

I received numerous replies from others assuming I didn't know the differences between psych and med/surg patients. Don't know why others don't see it that way.

aloevera · Jul 17, 2008

You did say that you were new to psych....straight from med-surg... so maybe some were explaining how their psych units were run....

medsurgrnco, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2008

Agree. And many of the replies were helpful. But there was a unnecessary condescending tone to some of the replies. I'm wondering if there is some weird stuff going on between psych and med/surg nurses that I didn't know about, similar to that of LPNs vs RNs and med/surg vs ICU & ER RNs. I'm new to psych nursing, but I'm not new to the psych field. And I was pretty surprised at what I observed in my first few shifts at the new job. Maybe others took offense at my surprise and were defensive when responding?

Wildwood Flower · Jul 18, 2008

Agree. And many of the replies were helpful. But there was a unnecessary condescending tone to some of the replies. I'm wondering if there is some weird stuff going on between psych and med/surg nurses that I didn't know about, similar to that of LPNs vs RNs and med/surg vs ICU & ER RNs. I'm new to psych nursing, but I'm not new to the psych field. And I was pretty surprised at what I observed in my first few shifts at the new job. Maybe others took offense at my surprise and were defensive when responding?

I think if anything it is just the opposite, a lot of med surg nurses assume psych nurses don't have medical backgrounds or skills. Most of the nurses I work with have extensive medical backgrounds ranging from ER, ICU, CRITICAL CARE etc,I also did not read any condescending tones into what others posted, maybe you need to reexamine your opinions, beliefs{might be some fixed false delusions there, lol:nono:

aloevera · Jul 18, 2008

Agree. And many of the replies were helpful. But there was a unnecessary condescending tone to some of the replies. I'm wondering if there is some weird stuff going on between psych and med/surg nurses that I didn't know about, similar to that of LPNs vs RNs and med/surg vs ICU & ER RNs. I'm new to psych nursing, but I'm not new to the psych field. And I was pretty surprised at what I observed in my first few shifts at the new job. Maybe others took offense at my surprise and were defensive when responding?

No, I did not read that in any of the posts.....no wierd stuff that I am aware of.....all the nurses I work with, like me, have very extensive medical backgrounds.....you could go on many different floors and be surprised by some lazy nurses in any field :nurse: I didn't read any defensive posts, either..... :no:

Jules A, MSN · Jul 18, 2008

My overall my experience with fellow psych nurses is that they are very generous with their expertise and time. The nurses I work with are incredibly helpful and super nice to new nurses no matter what their background happens to have been.

It seems to me that you started the thread with a negative tone that might have clouded how you interepreted the responses. Psych nursing can be dangerous so there is no room to have a chip on your shoulder. We are all in this together and it is crucial to respect, value and trust our team members.