What was your Psych clincial like?

[bowkerj]

I am beginning a BSN program next month (yea!) and am curious what the psych clinicals are like for each of you. Please tell me your experiences - if you enjoyed it or not. What do psych nurses do exactly?

Thanks,

J

[tencat]

I HATED psych clinical. It's funny, but before I actually was involved in the clinical I was interested in psych nursing. I'm a second career student, and my first career was teaching mid-school and high school. I burned out on it because everything seemed so futile. I felt hopeless and overwhelmed by all the problems that exist and the fact that there are no resources, and it is difficult if not impossible to make a real difference. I felt the same way during psych clinical. It felt exactly like teaching mid-school students. The only difference was that the doors were locked. Been there, done that! :chair:

[AussieKylie]

I couldnt wait for the two weeks to finish, I was counting down. I didnt enjoy my psych placement not at all. Observing my nurse I was with doing an admission and finding that this man tried to kill himself by gassing himself in the car (well he didnt because he never turned on the ignition) that truly disturbed me.

Also I found it mentally draining, after my two week placement I felt so exhausted I needed a break to heal my head.

I can say Mental Health is truly an area for those nurses who can handle it, as it was not my forte'.

[mona b RN, BSN, RN]

i hated psych clinical. it's funny, but before i actually was involved in the clinical i was interested in psych nursing. i'm a second career student, and my first career was teaching mid-school and high school. i burned out on it because everything seemed so futile. i felt hopeless and overwhelmed by all the problems that exist and the fact that there are no resources, and it is difficult if not impossible to make a real difference. i felt the same way during psych clinical. it felt exactly like teaching mid-school students. the only difference was that the doors were locked. been there, done that! :chair:

it's funny because i wanted nothing to do with psych ever until i actually started clinical. when i first stepped into that unit (lock down geri and adult psych) i was terrified:eek: i kid you not, i wanted to run cause they all looked like zombies right out of a movie or something. once i was there for awile something wonderful happened; i just began to feel like i really got to know the people and sorta got used to them. i agree though, it does take a certain type of individual to do it day in and day out.