I've been an RN for 3 years and have worked med/surg-tele, ICU, and ER. I'm now thinking of making a move to psych because I can honestly say that I hate traditional bedside nursing.
1) I am sick of constantly having to clean up feces, urine, emesis, and other ungodly bodily fluids. That I know of, psych patients perform their own ADL's.
2) I'm tired of having to deal with obnoxious patients and family members that think you are their personal servant/slave.
3) I'm completely over doing all the disgusting medical nursing tasks like cleaning pressure ulcers, changing dressings, inserting foleys and rectal tubes, etc.
I am assuming these things won't be an issue is the psych unit, but you know what they say when you assume. I don't want to make the switch and later find out that it is not what I thought it was. That being said, every time I've been to a psych unit, the nurses have seemed pretty relaxed and content. Definitely not stressed out like in other depts.
Any input from experienced psych nurses as to what it's really like to work on a locked down psych unit will be greatly appreciated. No sugar coating. By the way, I'm a 26 year old male, so dealing with psych patients does not frighten me and will not be an issue.
