Starting a new job in a psyc hopital

pandora44 · Nov 11, 2009

Welcome to psych! I'm new to this field, too, having just switched from med-surg in August. I LOVE my job as a psych nurse and hope you do, too. My best advice would be to sit in on as many 1 to 1s as you can.

As for books, I just started reading Sometimes I Act Crazy by Kreisman and Straus about borderline personality disorder. Borderline patients are the most challenging for me to deal with and their book has lots of good concrete tips for working with these patients.

Also, look through the sticky pages at the top of the pscyh nursing home page. There is a ton of great info. and tips in those pages.

Take care.

Jules A, MSN · Nov 12, 2009

No real advice just wanted to welcome you! Congrats on your new job.

kindgo · Nov 14, 2009

pandora44, Jules A

Thanks for the reply. I started on Thursday and it is such a slower pace then the med-surg I am used too. I came home exhausted though. I am defiantly out of my element, the lady I orientated with said she felt the same way. On Friday I worked with children and actually watched a take down very dramatic, :eek: I was told it's worse with children then adults. I didn't run for the hills I am gonna give this speciality a chance, even though the meds and everything is foreign to me.

Pandora44,

I have read over the stickies and I will probably go ahead and buy that book, I would like to feel better prepared for the position and whats to come. People where I am working say they learn new things everyday. There are not two people who are alike, makes sense to me.

Thanks again!!:loveya:

pandora44 · Nov 17, 2009

I'm glad you're liking it. Yes, it is MUCH slower paced than med-surg! I was shocked at the difference. The pacing of the shift is different. In med-surg I felt such pressure to get things done NOW NOW NOW. If I had a second of time I was busy working on something. The pace in psych feels like lolly-gagging.

BTW, I learned very quickly to keep my mouth shut when the other staff mentioned how busy it was. Their idea of busy is a slow day for me.

It is stressful, just in a different way. I, too, came home from my first day exhausted. But I love working with these patients. I feel like I make a difference here. I'm not just running in, getting their VS, looking at their abdomen and dashing off. I actually get to TALK with them and find out what is going on in their lives. It's such a different focus. I remember when I first started on the floor, my mind was in a whirlwind trying to adjust.

Let me know how it goes for you. I'd love hear more about your transition to psych.