Why did you choose psych nursing?

sayitgirl · Aug 10, 2005

Every nurse has some type of nursing that they enjoy, and psych is it for me. I did my year of med-surg as was suggested by my instructors and I am glad that I did. Because one thing that we may forget, is that the psych patient also gets medical illnesses too. And you need to know how to treat them. I work with a lot of nurses that skipped med-surg and went straight to the mental hospital and are limited with their assessments as a result. I like taking care of the mentally ill and I too am good at it.

:)

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Aug 10, 2005

I agree, sayitgirl, the stronger psychiatric nurse clinicians are the ones who can wear BOTH hats.

sayitgirl · Aug 10, 2005

I am going into psychiatric nursing. Just started school. However, I am bipolar. Haven't had episodes in years as I comply with my meds. Will this cause me a problem in getting a job? I never thought about mental health screenings?
Thanks so much for any replies
Sadie

just think about how that sounds for a minute...if you applied for a med-surg position do you think they would ask you if you had hypertension or diabetes and not hire you if you did... :stone

Animaniacs, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2005

I would love to do psych nursing after I graduate, which is one year away. But communication is not really my strong point, coming from a foreign country and all.

When I had clinicals in psych, the atmoshphere just felt so relaxing, and not so stressful, unlike the med-surg clinicals i had. I enjoyed talking to the patients, but it was kind of hard asking open ended questions, lol.

what do I have to do or how can I get a job as a psych nurse after graduation?

I think I would love to do psych nursing. i talked to an RN who works in a prison, and he said psych nursing is easy and not as stressful, you dont have to deal with medical problems, just mental health problems. the other choice i'm thinking of is dialysis nursing.

lil'nurse · Aug 11, 2005

I picked psych because it's interesting. On the other floors, pt are "the lap chole" or the "fem pop"; the pt's on our floor seem more diverse to me. It's your responsibility to get to know them on a more emotional/psychological level, as well as care for their physical needs. I really like the staff I work with, got to have a sense of humor when you work acute psych. And no matter how crappy my life gets, there's always someone on the unit who is so messed up it makes whatever I'm going through seem trivial. Kind of puts it into perspective.

I really dislike it when other nurses in our hospital say that psych is an "easy job". Maybe we are not dealing with medically unstable, "Trauma, Life in the ER" pt's but that does not mean our job is easy. Until you've worked in it and saw what actually happens and how stressful it can be, you can't understand how it is just as important as "medical nursing".

sayitgirl · Aug 11, 2005

I picked psych because it's interesting. On the other floors, pt are "the lap chole" or the "fem pop"; the pt's on our floor seem more diverse to me. It's your responsibility to get to know them on a more emotional/psychological level, as well as care for their physical needs. I really like the staff I work with, got to have a sense of humor when you work acute psych. And no matter how crappy my life gets, there's always someone on the unit who is so messed up it makes whatever I'm going through seem trivial. Kind of puts it into perspective.
I really dislike it when other nurses in our hospital say that psych is an "easy job". Maybe we are not dealing with medically unstable, "Trauma, Life in the ER" pt's but that does not mean our job is easy. Until you've worked in it and saw what actually happens and how stressful it can be, you can't understand how it is just as important as "medical nursing".

It take a special type of nurse to work in psych, you not only have to treat the body but the mind as well. Some people are afraid of that challenge, you can kinda of say psych is more challenging than other types of nursing...

gabbyh · Aug 14, 2005

Let's face it...there is a "psych component" in all aspects of nursing, no matter what your specialty is...my hope is that someday Nursing Programs in America will realize this, and teach students Psych for more than a few weeks of their training...I have colleagues that are psych nurses in UK and Australia, where training is much different...with all that said, I became a Psychiatric Nurse, because as others stated here...I was good at it...but it goes even deeper than that...it enables one to "really" help another person...people trust you with there most prized possession, themselves...I worked most of my career on locked, in-patient units, with adults and children...later moving to Administration, but still spending much time, even as an Administrator, out amoung nurses and their patients...I no longer work in a hospital setting, but believe me, I will always be a Psych Nurse!

~Gail

psych_nurse_2_be · Aug 15, 2005

I am starting my last semester of nursing school today. When I first entered school, I thought I wanted to do psych nursing because I have my BS in psych. I did my externship this summer in psych and I fell in love. Yes, psych nursing has its ups and downs, but I now feel that this is what I was made to do. I feel more comfortable than others do with psych patients, and I have a profound respect for the entire person - body and mind. We do psych clinicals this semester and it consists of 4 days at state hospital. To me, this is not enough. If I would not have externed this summer, I may still not know after 4 days in one place, if psych was for me. I also hate it when other nurses say psych nurses have an easy job. Yes, psych patients also have medical problems, so you are doing everything and caring for the entire person. To me, the biggest area is therapeutic communication and I personally know of med-surg nurses who would never make it, because their focus is on the medical issue and they are not concerned with communicating with the patient. I LOVE psych nursing and I am glad I found a place to call home once I graduate. :rolleyes:

hollabackgirl · Aug 18, 2005

The old saw "You don't HAVE to be crazy to work here, but it sure helps" definitely applies on my unit ...

mine too. lol

showbizrn · Aug 21, 2005

i have been reading many of the old threads here lately. it seems like with all the combative pts, non-compliance with therapy/meds, stresses of dealing with eccentric behavior, trying to diffuse tense situations, etc. that psych. would be a very negative working environment and very emotionally draining. i am very interested in becoming a psych. nurse and i just want to hear a little bit about why you chose it and what you like about it. thanks in advance. :)
keely

after experiencing the ultimate burn-out from med-surg (short-staff, no-breaks, working 1 - 2 hours past the shift daily, never finishing my assignment), i needed a job rejuvenation---quick! :lol2:

also, during the mid-1980's when the aids epidemic scare was at an all-time high, i pricked my fingers daily 2 -3 times (no safety needles were available then). so, i thought, at least if i'm afraid of the psych patients, i can run! :nono: back then, once i stuck my finger with a contaminated needle, it was a done deal.

:melody: but... i'm glad i made the switch to psychiatric nursing and have never regretted my decision to this day. never. i love utilizing my interactional and communication skills with my clients/families. i learn about myself---what pushes my buttons---and how to manage my anger in order to communicate in a professional mannner to staff, patients and families. when the combative patients require care, we work as a team to de-escalate the situation. that's what nursing is all about.[/color]

i enjoy psych nursing and can't imagine going back to med-surg.

sayitgirl · Aug 31, 2005

I would love to do psych nursing after I graduate, which is one year away. But communication is not really my strong point, coming from a foreign country and all.
When I had clinicals in psych, the atmoshphere just felt so relaxing, and not so stressful, unlike the med-surg clinicals i had. I enjoyed talking to the patients, but it was kind of hard asking open ended questions, lol.
what do I have to do or how can I get a job as a psych nurse after graduation?
I think I would love to do psych nursing. i talked to an RN who works in a prison, and he said psych nursing is easy and not as stressful, you dont have to deal with medical problems, just mental health problems. the other choice i'm thinking of is dialysis nursing.

I don't think that nurse was honest with you. I worked in a drug rehab that had a contract with several prisons. And every one of the patients admited had health problems. Hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, asthma...are not unknown to that population. You have to take care of their medical issues too. Who do you think gives them their meds or assesses them so they can be referred to the doctor?

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Sep 1, 2005

I don't think that nurse was honest with you. I worked in a drug rehab that had a contract with several prisons. And every one of the patients admited had health problems. Hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, asthma...are not unknown to that population. You have to take care of their medical issues too. Who do you think gives them their meds or assesses them so they can be referred to the doctor?

Totally agree. Just because a patient is in the hospital for psychiatric illness doesn't mean there are no medical health issues that need to be addressed. We often hear of "dual" patients as patients having the combination of both psych and CD issues. However, I often considered patients sort of dual anyway in that many psych patients also have a secondary (if not primary) medical problem. IMHO. Good questions.