You must be crazy

[bringtherain]

to work at a psych. hospital!

I hear that a lot. The truth is, you *do* have to be a little nuts to work at a psych. hospital, but even crazy nurses need work too! :]

It isnt that we are *crazy* we have just seen so much, that we are kind of immune to it. Pt. just cut herself with her sandal - assess it, clean it, call the dr. Pt has wrapped a towel around his neck in scuicide attempt - call a code - de-escelate as per proceedure. Then - the shift goes back to normal - groups - activities - as if nothing has happaned. Yet the staff is all aware and watching - just incase something breaks out again.

We have sympathy with everyone. We try our hardest to understand. We have seen the homeless drunk, crack head in the same unit as the rich wife that is soon to be divorced. We have seen the kids who were sexually abused by family members, and kids from rich homes, but their parents are never around. We see people in all walks of life. And we know, and understand, it is not our place to judge.

It is *our* place, as nurses to be supportive, and understanding of whatever walk of life the patient is going through at the time, and try to put ourselves in their shoes.

yes - even the pt that hovers at the nurses station and wants to be "in" with the staff, or the pt that comes to the station every 5 seconds requestiong a PRN for anxiety or pain on a 10/10 scale - with so much relaxedness in his tone of voice you think to yourself "you've got to be kidding me"

We see the kids who will throw chairs, flip tables, need restraints, kick, bite, curse, and call you everything under the sun in a horrible meltdown - only to have them come up to you and say "I sowwy nurse - I be good now" and then sit and color at the table and draw you a picture (which you hang so proudly on the wall)

I love working in this feild. I love the understanding and compassion it teaches me. I love the stories I hear - the success of after being admitted they were able to stay sober, and even the frequent fliers that often call the hospital their second home.

You never do have the same day twice!

[Jules A, MSN]

I also love psych and agree that we are a "special breed". Doesn't bother me if someone else doesn't get it, we do!

[Hygiene Queen]

Psych can be hilarious sometimes too. I work on the gero unit and where else can you work where you can play oldies on the stereo whilst you and your pts get down playing maracas and wearing silly hats?

It is VERY therapeutic for the pts... and the staff.

And things you'll hear.

During a group session, a very manicky and psychotic pt interrupted:

Patient: "A kitten came to my door once!"

Staff: "Aw! How sweet!"

Patient (smiling and with great cheer): "Yes............................ I put it in the microwave for TWO minutes!!!!"

It is NEVER boring!

[pandora44]

Thank you for your comments! I am just starting in psych after a hellish year in med-surg. So many of my former co-workers were rude or mean about my going into psych that it made me question my choice. The comments here have reaffirmed that I made the best decision for me. I start orientation on the floor next week!

[bringtherain]

Congradulations :] it is a lot of fun to work in psych.

[Jules A, MSN]

Welcome to our world and good luck!

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I think lots of psych staff people have a mental illness themselves or have someone in their life who is ill. I think this gives them tremendous empathy for patients. People just tend to focus on the stigma and can be rude and crude about it. They wouldn't make such remarks or roll their eyes at a diabetes-care nurse who has diabetes!

[algebra_demystified]

When you cut a noose off the neck of a borderline pt w/o your pulse breaking 80... you know you're a psych nurse.