So WHY did you go into Psyche nursing?

Published

Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

Indeed! WHY did any of you choose Psyche as your profession?

I'm going to be honest and say that a big reason that I want to do it is because I'm more confortable with the behavioral/psychosocial side of nursing. I'm the type of person who tends to be "all thumbs" and therefore I'm not good at most of the technical stuff that is involved, in med/surge nursing. When it comes to starting IV's... I can't hit the broad side of a barn. I also really do not have the greatest physical assessment skills but I believe that my ability to tell when someone just "isn't themselves" or tell when they just aren't feeling well... I believe my ability is good to see the "whole picture", you know? .

I don't know what exactly makes me a crappy med/surge RN, but I think I want to be a good psyche RN. I know that I'm going to need SOME physical assessment skills, and some skills that you learn in a medical setting... but what? WHAT, am I going to need to be a good psyche RN?? Am I going to be doing a whole lot of touching people, because sometimes I think that is what bothers me too; that you do so much physical hands on care in the med surge setting. I want to work on a unit where physical disorders are taken into consideration and treated with meds, but not treated otherwise, if that makes sense. Then again, if a person does have a major exacerbation of a disorder; well, as long as they are a walkie-talkie, that's fine with me. I *like* walkie talkies. I like them a LOT.

I'm someone who really doesn't have much of an eye, or much patience, for detail.. something else that makes me a bad med/surge RN. If I have to, I'll pay attention to details, but I hate having to.

Am I just a bad RN? Do I just need to find another profession? When I was a CNA, I LOVED going to the psyche unit. Most of our patients were walkie- talkies. We had very few that were bedbound, or even fall risks. I really liked this and felt so much more confortable. Does that mean I'm a bad RN? Is psyche really where I need to be, or am I being stupid and naive? I *do* like treating behavioral disorders, let me clarify that. Psyche patients do NOT make me particularly uncomfortable, like they do a lot of other nurses. I understand that they can't help the way that they are.

I know I'm not making any sense. I have been majorly stressed out lately because my current job (med-surge) is not going well at all, and I'm trying to do better but mostly I just want out. I've been very close to getting hired on with a nearby psyche hospital for about a month and a half now and the stringing-along is stressing me out. I think that, if I get this psyche job... it will be a new, fresh start for me, and that is bound to help. I feel like if I get the job, I WILL do whatever I can to be a good nurse in this field... even if it does mean boning-up on my lousy physical assessment skills.

I have my very own MH issues =) and am currently not on any meds and haven't been for about a month or so, and that's probably not helping either. I have mild-moderate depression (it does vary) and have yet to really truly find a medication that I like.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've only been in it for a month, but it sounds pretty much like what you said. I am a new grad, who went through a med/surg preceptorship, and found that wsn't my cup of tea. I too seem to be all thumbs, and miss a lot of the physical assessment stuff that other nurses got in a glance. On the other hand, I love the talking and psychososial parts of psych nursing, and of course the puzzle of what is going on with a person, and how to get them from where they are to where they can be.

I hate the feeling that I am not as good as a med/surg nurse because I can't/don't want to do that all day. Having said all that, I am looking for a shift one a week or so on a med/surg unit, otherwise I will not know one end of a foley from the other, and ya know, that would be bad :roll

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

Well I found out today, I GOT THE JOB!!! =)

So, I guess I WILL be finding out real quick, if psyche is where I need to be. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just b/c one is in Psych does not mean that they do not need good med-surg or physical assessment skills. Matter of fact I would say that going into Psych requires even more astute physical assessment skills than average as many times a psych pt. can't or won't tell you if something is very drastically wrong with them physically. Myself I work locked, admissions & many times we get brand new admits with no history, we must gather all relevant info we can on our own, many times my assessment skills are essential. Mind you it is not the main part of the care we give like it would be on a medical unit but it definately is an essential skill to have.

Additionally despite the fact that it s a Psych unit we can & still do have medical situations arise, even codes on a fairly regular basis (considering all pts. are "supposed to be" medically cleared prior to admission). You know physical altercations between patients which end up requiring stiches or bandaging. We even have patients on hemodialysis who go out to medicine 2-3X/week. After all just b/c the patient has psych issues doesn't mean they will not also have medical issues. I do dressings, draw blood, etc. I just don't do it with the same frequency as I would in med-surg.

Lastly & this is for me, just my opinion. I went into Psych b/c I too have excellent people skills, I am damn good at what I do. I do also however feel that as a member of the nursing profession it is my responsibility to keep my basic skills up & stay current through education & hands on training. As professionals we do have responsibility to the profession we are a part of...

Okay enough with my 2 cents. Wish you the best in your new job. Hope you find it to be your nitch.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion