Starting First Job in the State Psych Hospital

TerpGal02, ASN · Aug 8, 2013

Safety first for both you and the patients. Always know your exits, familiarize yourself with verbal de-escalation, watch what people have in their rooms and make sure you get your mouth checks done. Pts will cheek meds. Do not engage with power struggles with pts. All ot does is aggrivate you both and is a huge waste of time. Give them the option to follow directions and lay out the consequences of not following directions. Simple as that, you don't need to argue with the pts. Remember they are mentally ill. You and I can have a totally rational conversation about problem solving. Psych pts a lot of times cannot do this and its really easy to forget they can't. Try not to get jaded. It's a great specialty for the right person. You gotta have it in your blood.

algebra_demystified · Aug 9, 2013

Look up your state's nurse practice act, locate the rules for seclusion and restraint. Learn what it says in there. When you get to work, any number of well-meaning people will advise you to bend/break/fold/spindle/mutilate them. Listen to what they say, don't try to change the system, just watch your backside and make sure you operate within the rules in the state nurse practice act.

Always remember that the worst the hospital can do is fire you. The state board can trash your license, and then you're loading trucks instead of using your education.

Just because somebody has 30 years' experience, has a special certification, is your supervisor, is your hospital-assigned preceptor, is your friend... that doesn't mean they know the nurse practice act and how to stay within it.