Words and phrases that I didn't know before I became a psych nurse

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Specializes in Psychiatric nursing.

I noticed the other day while writing my progress notes that we tend to use alot of terminology that non mental health staff are not familiar with. A few examples that I can think of off the top of my head are:

Pt is visable in milieu

Word salad

thought blocking

responding to internal stimuli (usually written just "responding")

Pt denies SI/HI/AH

anhedonia

quiet room

contracting for safety

AECPS

tangential

flight of ideas

hypomanic

If anyone can think of anything else to add, please feel free.

Kay28

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

Affect

Projection

Involuntary Admission

Tardive Dyskinesia (TD)

DSM IV by your side or whatever cheat sheet for insurance company compliance...

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malingering

NMS (Neuroleptic Malignant syndrome)

akathisia

EPS (extrapyramidal symptoms)

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Specializes in Psych.

RTIS in not a valid use of initials, but we use them too...

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Usually dementia pts: "time travelling" (though not an official term)

Phobic

Manipulative

Staff/milieu-splitting

Manic/hypomanic

Guarded

Positive/negative symptoms

Hyperverbal (non-official: "verbal vomit")

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Psychosomatic Ghost

Humpty Dumpty Head

Dinosaur Wisdom

You had'em but then you got rid of'em so you didn't have'em

I had not heard of these peculiar words arranged in this fashion until I got into psych nursing.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

gravitationally challenged (for eating disordered patients)

chronologically gifted (for the elderly)

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We say "homicidal/suicidal" at our facility a LOT. It's typically a warning to staff members that a client is escalating and having thoughts of suicide/homicide. Basically means watch out, you're likely to see violence of some sort.

EPS was the big one for me when I started. Absolutely could NOT recall that from nursing school.

To add:

voluntary/involuntary

GAF

cycling

shuffling or Thorazine shuffle

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

5150 (for those not in CA, that's an involuntary psychiatric hold). I only need to hear/say those four numbers and we all know what to expect for this patient's ride.

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
5150 (for those not in CA, that's an involuntary psychiatric hold). I only need to hear/say those four numbers and we all know what to expect for this patient's ride.

That Dierks Bentley song makes a LOT more sense now, haha.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
Psychosomatic GhostHumpty Dumpty HeadDinosaur WisdomYou had'em but then you got rid of'em so you didn't have'emI had not heard of these peculiar words arranged in this fashion until I got into psych nursing.
Several decades of experience, never heard any of those before
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euthymic

labile

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