You Know You're a Psych Nurse When . . . .

[motor_mouth]

Thought this would be fun!

You know you're a psych nurse when. . .

You consider it a good day if you're not hit, kicked, scratched, etc.

Code greens are a normal part of the job.

[Darkstar1485, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

you reach for your keys whenever you approach a door

You look at homeless people and try to diagnose them

You can de-escalate a situation in the snap of a finger

You memorized the best now orders

You can give an IM injection with your eyes closed

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

^^....You pause after passing through a door until you are sure it is closed and latched.

[Davey Do]

You know you're a psych nurse when. . .

You can identify traits in different Axis III diagnosis of other AN.com members by their posts!

[MHnurseren]

You know you're a psych nurse when....

You are really good at dodging things... milk cartons, trays of food, vomit, spit, punches/kicks, conversations with patients who are ++tangential.

You have a sixth sense for that patient who is going to be trouble on your night shift.

You have a gut from all those "reinforcements" that your coworkers bring in but you can run like an athlete when someone calls for support.

The second anyone gets mad/upset around you, your calming psych nurse voice just turns on.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

You can identify traits in different Axis III diagnosis of other AN.com members by their posts!

It's more fun to track their Axis II....

[Davey Do]

motor_mouth said:

You know you're a psych nurse when. . .

I was in a waiting room yesterday and there was a person there who was obviously mentally ill, because they're doing a lot of self-talking. (And I checked: the person was wearing no Bluetooth!)

As I waited, I made a little drawing in my journal of an idea for a sign, sort of like the kind that use to be in restaurants. You know the one, dividing off the smoking section from the non-smoking section?

Only this sign would read:

[EKUGRAD, BSN, MSN, RN, CNS]

The only difference between yourself and the patients: Wristbands !

[EKUGRAD, BSN, MSN, RN, CNS]

Night Shift Motto (borrowed from the Trauma Center) - Keep 'Em Alive 'til 7:05

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

^^....You pause after passing through a door until you are sure it is closed and latched.

Yep but I did that long before I became a psych nurse - I was raised on a farm and a loose gate or door would have us chasing cows all day!

Hppy

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

- You get report from ER on a new admission, describing some of the most bizarre behavior that the ER nurse has ever seen, and you say "OK, is that all?"

- ER brings a patient to the floor, warning you not to remove the restraints. The first thing you do is remove the restraints, because this is one of your frequent fliers and you know that the patient won't be an issue on the unit.

- Patients tell you some of the weirdest things imaginable, and you stand there and listen like it's a normal conversation (which, for you, it probably is).

- Friends and family can't surprise you with anything, because you have already seen stranger things at work.

[Davey Do]

- Patients tell you some of the weirdest things imaginable, and you stand there and listen like it's a normal conversation (which, for you, it probably is).

In other words, Orca, we speak their language!

[Farawyn]

In other words, Orca, we speak their language!

*tackles you*