Such a bad rap

[Simply Complicated]

I got a transfer to psych, I start in 2 weeks. Everyone seems to have an opinion. I can't count how many times I've been told to be careful, or asked if I am crazy.. don't I know I can get seriously hurt? It's like people think I'm going to get beat up every day or something. I'm not naive enough to think that it can't be dangerous. But I did a lot of research before making this decision. From what I can tell, as long as the place has protocols in place, that are followed, and you use your training when interacting with the patients, the risk is pretty low.

I've been bit, scratched, kicked, slapped across the face, all on M/S floors. At least in a behavioral health facility they plan for this kind of behavior. Did everyone else get this type reaction when people heard this was the field they chose to work in? I'm very excited about this new opportunity, I really don't want to hear people try and freak me out. I usually just tell them, thanks for the warning, I will be trained and I will be careful.

[laurenicoleRN]

ME TOO! I took a job at a state psych hospital and all the ppl at my last job in a medical hospital reacted the same way. I love my job and have never been in harm's way. (Knock on wood!)

[Davey Do]

Simply Complicated:

I mentioned in another post that Nurses are second only to Police Officers in receiving physical trauma. And, it sounds like you've already recieved your share of physical trauma from the Medical Patients you've dealt with.

I've been involved in Psychiatric Nursing off and on for over 27 years now. I've been injured twice: I was stabbed with a pair of scissors by a Client dx with Undifferentiated Schizophrenia. However, that was in a Community setting outside of his apartment. And, he "did it only because the director told (him) to do it."

The other time, I was waylaid by a 74 year old Patient dx with Alzheimer's. It was a sucker punch that made me see stars.

Please don't allow the Naysayers to quell your enthusiasm. There are safeguards in place. Staff is trained. This can be a great learning experience on how to deal with people.

I believe that if you can talk down a Psychotic Individual, you can talk to anybody.

Good luck to you in your new position, Simply Complicated

Dave

[totally_nuts]

Good on you! Ignore them - they don't know what they are missing ... lol ... or maybe they do!!

I start my psych ward job on 4th Dec and have also been asked if I'm the one whose nuts. I love mental health nursing!

Good luck

[Simply Complicated]

Thank you. While it's not necessarily good to hear that this is common, it does help to know it is a common reaction. I might as well get used to it, because I'm sure it will be something I hear for a long time to come, whenever I say I am a psychiatric nurse.

[LaRN]

with proper education and strict adherence to best practices, (never letting your guard down and paying attention to changes in pt's mood and behavior), injuries are rare, and minor if they do occur.

[Simply Complicated]

I've been working almost a month and haven't seen anything too crazy. Couple patients who get worked up and one female attacked a male worker. Worst she managed was to scratch him. We have pretty good safety protocols and manage to prevent things pretty well.

[sarmedic70]

Best of luck to you. Everybody posted some really great advice and so very true. Depending upon your facility, as long as proper traning is given to you all and good policy and procedures in place, yes, psych is a very violent career area; however, since you already know that when you go in to it (or hopefully realize that there is that risk), be smart when around patients (expect the unexpected; never EVER let your guard down, know you WILL be manipulated (especially when starting out.........and especially if dealing with Borderlines, but not limited to Borderlines); never EVER have your back turned on any patient, don't get yourself into a situation of which you cannot get out of/escape (patient's rooms, etc), remember that when a patient has a violent outburst/physical aggression, it is nothing to do with YOU personally but something transpired that possibly brought up past memories/trauma, et al; remember that with most patients that it will be a fight or flight and generally it will be a fight (especially in dealing with pediatric/adolescent population of which are trauma survivors with PTSD and RAD (oops Reactive Attachment Disorder)..........the list is endless, so I think you get the point:lol2:) From my own personal observations, staff who get hurt generally got themselves into that position/corner for many reasons........it is rare that is NOT the case.

As Dave posted, don't listen to the naysayers. You have come to the right forum to get some fantastic advice.......psych nursing is one of the most rewarding career fields you can be in on so many levels. Those patients (and their families) truly do need us:heartbeat, especially when there still is that general perception/misunderstanding out there about mental/psychiatric illnesses because it does affect behavior:confused:. I have had the opportunity, by being in the career specialty, to educate people on so many levels. I also work in EMS and my supervisor has oft said (he does ER, fire, and air ambulance too) he does not understand how I can "do it"...........yes, it is NOT for everybody...........you are not going to cure your patients..............however, there is a service that you can provide to your patients like no other:nurse:..........on so many different levels. I am on one of the absolute most violent units in our entire state hosp facility............we average of late 10-20 holds/seclusions...........I have a fantastic staff:yeah:.................of whom truly do not get paid nearly enough for that they endure day in and day out..............they do it because they truly do care about our patients.........I knew early on in my career as a RN that I was going to do either one of two things once I got my Med-Surg experience done (felt it was wise to go that route for and very thankful for doing so even though I HATE Med-Surg)........and that was either ER/EMS or Psych.............I am both (full-time is psych)...............by being in this career specialty area has also assisted me in non-nursing situations every day......more understanding of people as a whole, et al................:redbeathe

At any rate, welcome to the "family"...................may it also be your passion! :redbeathe:clown:

[justashooter]

Simply Complicated:

I mentioned in another post that Nurses are second only to Police Officers in receiving physical trauma.

now dave, you know better than that.

policemen and nurses don't even make the top 40 in terms of most physically dangerous professions.

deep sea fishermen, loggers, ironworkers, construction workers, road workers, and dozens of other professions have physical injury risks up to 100+X what policemen do. look for reference in the bureau of labour and statistics reports every year. hell, quicky mart clerks have a 10X higher incidence of injurious assault than policemen, and taxi drivers are not far behind them. get off your soap box and don't think for a minute that nursing is a dangerous profession. when was the last time you heard of a patient killing a nurse? it happens every day to quicky mart clerks over $42.53 and a pack of twinkies.

[Jules A, MSN]

get off your soap box and don't think for a minute that nursing is a dangerous profession.

You might want to tell that to the nurses I have worked with that include 3 broken noses, a broken leg, broken tailbone, bilateral knee damage and numerous bruises, scratches and bites. FWIW there have been two staff members in my area, both techs I think, that were killed by psychiatric patients. I'm not saying we are in more danger than other dangerous professions but imvho psych nursing does have its risks and that is something that we need to be aware of and at peace with before we sign on. If staff isn't willing or able to physically assist their coworkers that are getting assaulted I don't want them on my unit. The plus side is that we do know how to handle these situations and are able to head most of them off prior to anyone getting seriously hurt. Its the nature of the business.

P.S. wanted to add that despite the above I LOVE psych nursing and can't imagine doing anything else.

[justashooter]

tell that to the ironworker i knew who fell 3 stories on a construction site DRT. tell that to the ironworker i knew who was hit square in the top of the head with a 6" long 1" diameter bolt that fell 8 stories DRT. tell that to the steelworker i knew who had a hand amputated after his sleeve got caught up in a power roller. tell that to the ironworker i knew who had half of his hand crushed in a chain while lifting a 3 ton beam with a crane assist. these are the deaths and some of the serious injuries i have personally seen while managing crews. myself? i can't count the stitches and broken bones. do i talk about it much? only when people raise the issue.

[Jules A, MSN]

tell that to the ironworker i knew who fell 3 stories on a construction site DRT. tell that to the ironworker i knew who was hit square in the top of the head with a 6" long 1" diameter bolt that fell 8 stories DRT. tell that to the steelworker i knew who had a hand amputated after his sleeve got caught up in a power roller. tell that to the ironworker i knew who had half of his hand crushed in a chain while lifting a 3 ton beam with a crane assist. these are the deaths and some of the serious injuries i have personally seen while managing crews. myself? i can't count the stitches and broken bones. do i talk about it much? only when people raise the issue.