Students Psych rotation

[TNfutureRN]

Hello, I am a Junior, 4 weeks into my second semester at the University of Tennessee at Chatanooga's School of Nursing. The curriculum has changed from those in the past and instead of dedicating an entire semester to Psych, they have decided to break it up with Community Health and Gerontology. We will spend additional time as seniors visiting Community Health again, but for now just a taste. I wanted to inquire about other Psych rotations out there if anyone is interested in replying. We have spent the last 3 weeks at a mental institute here in the area and the experience has been incredible. My patient has been diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia, a condition I had always heard about, but never had exposure to. The experience has been challenging, especially the interventions. I am currently working on my nursing care plan for her and our rotation will end on Monday (2-8-99). I have enjoyed it and want to hear others experiences, either good or bad.

[dinirn]

Hello, I went to a diploma program in PA. We also divided up psych rotation to include Community nursing. I spent four weeks at a state hospital, and 4 weeks in a locked ward of a tertiary care center. Psych really helps you develop good communication skills that can be used in every aspect of nursing. although I didn't like it very much as a specialty, I have a great deal of respect for psych nurses as I do for all nurses. Goo Luck.

[TNfutureRN]

To dinirn...Thank you for your reply. I have never heard of a tertiary care center, and I can't wait to talk to my instructor for an explanation. I totally agree with your statement regarding communication skills...if there is one thing that I have gained throughout this part of the rotation is the ability to communicate better with everyone from family to strangers. I will have to admit; however, that I kinda like psych too! Thanks to you again...with every e-mail I learn something new.

[KWiggles]

Hi, I attend nursing school at the University of Texas at El Paso, where we still have an entire semester of Psych. I am in that semester now, and it is very challenging. I have been visiting a facility for the long term care of schizoprhenics, and let me tell you, psych is not for me! I have great respect for people who go into it, but I am more of a black and white kind of person. I like to look at something, fix it, and know that I have fixed it. I am halfway through the semester, though, and I am just going to keep my head up!

[anoon]

I go to The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing. We spend an entire semester studying psych nursing, with both a clinical component and a supporting lecture. I feel like it was a great experience. I was fortunate enough to be exposed to both pediatric and adult mental health acute care settings, and all kinds of psych settings were discussed in depth in our lecture. I feel like I will be completely prepared to accept any psych assignments that I may get as a graduate nurse. I absolutely loved my clinical rotation and my lecture! It was a very challenging experience but a very beneficial one.

Hope this what was you were looking for,

Amber N