What does this type of nursing consist of?

[Chantalaya]

I'm really interested in becoming a nurse, but I was very curious of what my day would look like as a psych nurse. Knowing how often I would deal with the "gross stuff" and how often I'll be able to be around the patients isn't information I've found easily when I'm talking specifically bout this type of nursing. All information is greatly appreciated.

[Heylove, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I guess it depends on your definition of "gross stuff." On our unit, there are no IVs (because of the safety issue of tubing) and lab comes up to handle blood products. We are responsible for collecting urine and sending it to the lab, if needed. We often deal with patients vomiting, and some may have issues getting to the bathroom in time, or able to take care of their hygiene needs. I would have to say some of the "gross stuff" is having to hear about some of the conditions these kids have lived in, and the situations that they have experienced in regards to the physical, emotional and sexual violence that some have been exposed to.

[3peas]

It also depends on what type of unit or area you are in-locked down acute in-patient, emergency in-take, out-patient, etc. There are many areas. If you are in an acute care setting of any type as a nurse expect gross stuff. I was an ICU nurse before and saw WAY more "gross" stuff. Can you say code brown q10min or every time you moved a patient. Have I seen gross stuff at my psych hospital? Yes. But I don't see snowflakes when I take off a patients socks and I don't hear mucus sounds while suctioning (my most hated thing). So it just depends on your level of gross. Nursing is gross, but put yourself in the patients shoes and remember they are all human and it's their worst day.

[GeminiNurse29]

I work at a psych facility that is majority forensics, meaning the patients are there because they committed crimes (everything from murder to molestation to battery). There are different levels of security and there's also a geriatric psych unit. We see more medical stuff on the geriatric unit, like wounds, cancer patients, and of course dementia. The geriatric patients are there because of aggression and either their family or facility couldn't handle them anymore.

On the forensics units, if someone is getting medically acute, they get sent out (with techs and security and often restraints) to a traditional hospital. For safety reasons, we can't do many things like IVs (sharps, tubing, etc are hazards), suctioning, or whatever else. It's really difficult to get assistive equipment as well, such as wheelchairs or crutches (again, the weapons angle). A lot of it is med passes (mostly PO), minor wounds/injuries, and occasional injections. It's different from other nursing for sure.