Should I learn martial arts for psych nursing?

[Wanderer RN]

So I'm a new nurse, recently graduated and now working in critical care. There is this persistent calling within me to be a mental health nurse. (Bit of background info; I've always been very interested in the human mind, reading psychology textbooks as pleasure reading.)

During my psych rotations in nursing school, we were given a very brief lesson on self-defense for our encounters with a forensic inpatient population in a state hospital. The calling to do mental health nursing grows stronger each day, and I'm wondering if it is wise and/or prudent to learn a few self-defense methods so as to avoid injury that I may or may not encounter in dealing with mentally broken people.

Let me make myself clear here. I have absolutely no intention of using violence against any person, patient or otherwise. I'm only interested in keeping my own person safe.

If you, or someone you know, is a mental health nurse, have you taken up self-defense courses to prevent bodily harm?

[newrpn]

Martial arts cannot not and should not ever be used on any patient, psyc or not. Learning how to verbally de-escalate a patient and how to get out of grabs, hairballs, etc is useful, but martial arts will get you into trouble. Try looking for non-violent crisis intervention training instead.

[Wanderer RN]

Thanks newrpn! I ,too, prefer the intelligent path to de-escalating violence. I speak from very little experience within this field, so I'm trying to gain as much information as I can here before I actually apply for a position. I have never heard of any mental health practitioner speak of self-defense, so I wasn't sure how this subject is viewed within this subculture.

[Tex.]

Not helpful, but I can't help but think how AWESOME this topic would be for our next Jacob Rockstar RN installment!

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

There is a free class on the univ of Minnesota school of pub health website on crisis intervention. You should check it out.

[elkpark]

If you get a job in psych, your employer will train you in deescalation and self-defense and restraint interventions approved for that facility. Using any kind of techniques not approved by your employer can get you in serious trouble with your employer and the state. In a worst case scenario, it could lead to criminal charges.

[Talila72]

I studied martial arts many years before I became a psych nurse. I have never utilized any of it in nursing. The bottom line is you can ONLY use holds that are approved by your facility and that's only after every other technique to deescalate the patient has been tried.

[DRZmaui]

Have been in instructor with 5 different models of behavioral de-escalation, crisis intervention, and management of violent behavior. The best advice I give to my students, walk away or excuse yourself away from any situation you are becoming uncomfortable in. Get help, or as it's now politically correct terminology Show of Support”. A power struggle or a bad situation can escalate very fast.

Many years ago, Hawaii State Hospital had a rash of staff injuries. Trying to problem solve the situation, they interviewed injured staff. Asked them, Did it ever occur to you to leave the situation, and get help”. Almost all of them said no. A classic example of ‘tunnel vision'.

After encouraging staff to not manage an escalating patient alone, and walking away from a threating situation, their assaults and injuries went to almost zero.

As psych nurses were reinforced to maintain control of the milieu. Sometimes it clouds our vision of the bigger picture.

My advice, be sure to always have an escape/egress. Know your patients, be aware of any change in baseline behaviors, and always plan ahead. Usually there is indicator of troubles ahead.

Utilizing physical presence (or 1:1) to help calm a client in crisis is often the most effective way of helping them thru crisis. Also, builds trust for the next time.

[Alnitak7]

What a good martial arts class teaches is not about mindlessly fighting but instead about humility and next about knowing what someone is about to do. Learning to anticipate violence before it happens is an important part of martial arts training and should be part of healthcare training. There are certain martial arts types that are non-violent. They also teach that you don't use it unless your life is in danger.

[elkpark]

Learning to anticipate violence before it happens is an important part of martial arts training and should be part of healthcare training.

That is part of every nonviolent intervention training course I've encountered over the years in psychiatric settings. Again, using any kind of unapproved intervention techniques, even "non-violent" martial arts practices, on clients in psychiatric settings would be grounds for firing and, in a worst-case scenario, possible criminal charges in any state in which I've practiced over the years. Studying those techniques might help individuals be more attuned to their surroundings (if they are not already) and feel more confident in challenging situations, but actually using the techniques in the workplace would not be an option.

[cockadoodie]

hahahahahahahaha (sorry)

[Davey Do]

Good enquiry, great responses!

I took a rather involved self-defense course, as a young adult, with an instructor who had a black belt in Taekwondo. Now, some techniques I learned has helped me in my 40 years in working as a DD Attendant, Houseparent for Troubled Teenage Boys, and as an EMT, ER and Psych Nurse. Techniques, for example, like the relaxed (horse) stance, the concept of Aikido, and how to fall and not get hurt.

I have used these in conjunction with CPI I was first exposed to about 30 years ago and, aside from literally being stabbed in the back by a psychotic Patient in the community, have never been injured. I have been involved in numerous situations throughout the years that required physical contact with Clients and Patients and my actions and reactions have never been called into question.

I would encourage Lizzie B. Rock to go ahead and take the self-defense course, learn the boundaries of its use, if, for no other reason than to just feel safer.

Heck, I wish I would have taken a course in Ballet just so I could look good getting away from a situation!