Outpatient psych

MrChicagoRN, RN · Jan 27, 2014

Probably assessments, med teaching, administration of depot meds, audits & record keeping, maybe groups.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 28, 2014

You may also have to place patients on holds and/or arrange for inpatient admissions.

Caffeine_IV · Jan 28, 2014

Thanks! The job description was vague. Won't hurt to apply.

MegZ.Lyskawa · Feb 10, 2014

I work in outpatient mental health and have for 7-8 years. I made the transition from inpatient psych in 2005. It was a positive move! Compared to inpatient psych, you do much less crisis intervention such as seclusion and restraints and IM ER meds. The crisis intervention that you DO is putting patients on a 5150 legal hold and coordinating their transfer to Psych Emergency. That is about 20% of the job.. The other part of the job is med support, case management, and facilitating groups. At least that is what it is like at my facility. Overall, I am happy I moved from inpatient to outpatient mental health. I have more autonomy on the job.

Hope that helps.

x19amanda · Feb 17, 2014

I began working outpatient psych at a local hospital approx 2mths ago. I am one of two RNs on teh floor. My job is administering all medications such as IM's that are given Q2 or 4weeks, such as Prolixin, Haldo, Invega, and Risperdal. I comlete an nurses note on each appointment, do tx plans for those without therapists, work with pharmacy, case managers, hold all sample meds for the hospital, run clozaril groups every wednesday, and other paperwork and responsibilties. My job is very indepedent which I love. I have my own office which I do my work in the way I want to. I schedule when I want and what days I want, so if I want 4 hours of down time to catch up I schedule around that. It's a great field to see my clients progress and live normal happy lives, and being able to listen to their stories and help each one is just as rewarding and it is truely saving lives.

Umberlee · Feb 20, 2014

I'll be starting an outpatient psych position soon and I am nervous! It's with an ACT team that is brand new so we will have lots of "growing pains" to go through I'm sure. It's only supposed to be ~28 hours per week but we'll be building toward a caseload of 36-40 people so I have no idea how that is going to work. I'm a little worried that I may be biting off too much but I just really wanted a change of pace from the psych hospital.

I'm taking a huge pay cut as well as having to pay for a bunch more day care so I'm really hoping that the autonomy and increased time with the family will be worth the switch. Part of my hope also is that, since community-based nursing should keep growing and thriving into the future, it may open some doors down the line if I have worked on an ACT team before.