What is psych nursing really like???

[ifhn10]

I've been an RN for 3 years and have worked med/surg-tele, ICU, and ER. I'm now thinking of making a move to psych because I can honestly say that I hate traditional bedside nursing.

1) I am sick of constantly having to clean up feces, urine, emesis, and other ungodly bodily fluids. That I know of, psych patients perform their own ADL's.

2) I'm tired of having to deal with obnoxious patients and family members that think you are their personal servant/slave.

3) I'm completely over doing all the disgusting medical nursing tasks like cleaning pressure ulcers, changing dressings, inserting foleys and rectal tubes, etc.

I am assuming these things won't be an issue is the psych unit, but you know what they say when you assume. I don't want to make the switch and later find out that it is not what I thought it was. That being said, every time I've been to a psych unit, the nurses have seemed pretty relaxed and content. Definitely not stressed out like in other depts.

Any input from experienced psych nurses as to what it's really like to work on a locked down psych unit will be greatly appreciated. No sugar coating. By the way, I'm a 26 year old male, so dealing with psych patients does not frighten me and will not be an issue.

[pinkiepieRN]

Thanks again guys. I actually shadowed someone in the psych unit a couple of days ago and I quickly realized that psych is definitely not for me. I left within two hours of arriving. The place feels like a prison and the patients are beyond annoying, disgusting, and absolutely coo-coo for coco puffs (duh). Not my cup of tea.

I hate to be harsh, but what were you expecting? Just everything but gross medsurg tasks?

[lynds80]

Well at least you know it's not for you. There is no gray area in psych. Either you love it or hate it. Well good luck.

[Zookeeper44, RN]

I adore Psych Nursing, and pray I never have to do anything else. I have supportive management for the most part, I am not micro-managed, I don't get scolded or treated like a child on the rare occasion I legitimately have to call in sick, or if I don't answer my phone on my day off if they call to see if I can come in. My co-workers are truly like family...unlike most other nursing, you need to have a close rapport with your co-workers and all be on the same page to manage a milieu environment successfully. I never dread going to work, and some days I actually look forward to it...but I used to get physically sick in the other environments I've worked in because of management and co-worker B.S. In my psych hospital, I feel like I am treated like a professional and that my opinions and input matter. I love that when I'm off, I'm OFF. No on-call and no work to do at home. Co-workers get together outside work, help each other outside work, etc. People that are drawn to psych are awesome people for the most part, and are a joy to work with, not as stressed out, or out for themselves, as I have witnessed in other areas.

The worst day I have had in psych was still FAR better than my "good" days in other types of nursing (I have done home health and hospice, and of course saw a lot of different areas in school). As far as the patient care itself, kids on the adolescent unit are usually pretty healthy, so rarely are there any "med-surg" type issues to deal with. Even on the adult units you may have a rare pt. on O2 or with a colostomy but they usually can manage things themselves. You will need to stay sharp on your BLS as we do have a code once in a while and it can be difficult to respond appropriately if you're not in practice. We don't even have many psych codes because we do a good job of managing the pts. and de-escalating them before it becomes an emergency.

You will be managing behaviors, and you have to figure out if you like that or you don't. If you are understanding, compassionate and love helping pts. with mental illness, you will love it. If you don't, you won't last any time. You will know very quickly which side you are on

Good luck finding your niche, it makes all the difference in the world!!

[lynds80]

I adore Psych Nursing, and pray I never have to do anything else. I have supportive management for the most part, I am not micro-managed, I don't get scolded or treated like a child on the rare occasion I legitimately have to call in sick, or if I don't answer my phone on my day off if they call to see if I can come in. My co-workers are truly like family...unlike most other nursing, you need to have a close rapport with your co-workers and all be on the same page to manage a milieu environment successfully. I never dread going to work, and some days I actually look forward to it...but I used to get physically sick in the other environments I've worked in because of management and co-worker B.S. In my psych hospital, I feel like I am treated like a professional and that my opinions and input matter. I love that when I'm off, I'm OFF. No on-call and no work to do at home. Co-workers get together outside work, help each other outside work, etc. People that are drawn to psych are awesome people for the most part, and are a joy to work with, not as stressed out, or out for themselves, as I have witnessed in other areas.

The worst day I have had in psych was still FAR better than my "good" days in other types of nursing (I have done home health and hospice, and of course saw a lot of different areas in school). As far as the patient care itself, kids on the adolescent unit are usually pretty healthy, so rarely are there any "med-surg" type issues to deal with. Even on the adult units you may have a rare pt. on O2 or with a colostomy but they usually can manage things themselves. You will need to stay sharp on your BLS as we do have a code once in a while and it can be difficult to respond appropriately if you're not in practice. We don't even have many psych codes because we do a good job of managing the pts. and de-escalating them before it becomes an emergency.

You will be managing behaviors, and you have to figure out if you like that or you don't. If you are understanding, compassionate and love helping pts. with mental illness, you will love it. If you don't, you won't last any time. You will know very quickly which side you are on

Good luck finding your niche, it makes all the difference in the world!!

I agree, you will know very quickly. I worked on a adult psych unit which I liked. Left there after a fees months, it was only pt to go to a meed surg floor..I'm learning a lot but its not for me.

[Abug]

Oh, zookeeper...I couldn't agree more. The worst day in psych is better than most anything else in nursing. As for me, I knew the first day of my psych rotation that it was for me. After 45 yrs I'm still working in psych. It's never dull or boring. It's the kind of job that is engaging, challenging, and fosters a degree of teamwork I rarely experienced except in the ED. Sure it's not for everyone, but if it's for you, nothing else will ever do.

[lynds80]

Oh zookeeper...I couldn't agree more. The worst day in psych is better than most anything else in nursing. As for me, I knew the first day of my psych rotation that it was for me. After 45 yrs I'm still working in psych. It's never dull or boring. It's the kind of job that is engaging, challenging, and fosters a degree of teamwork I rarely experienced except in the ED. Sure it's not for everyone, but if it's for you, nothing else will ever do.[/quote']

Do you regret ever dong anything else? I've loved psych before I became an RN I wanted to be a social worker...loved my psych rotation in school., I remember during my lecture listening to my teacher talk god I want to be just like him. He has a NP and counsels teaches. That's me!!!! Brief changing wound cleaning and truly not really knowing my pts isn't me! Maybe I'm crazy ?!???