Your typical day as a psych nurse

Kabin · Apr 30, 2004

I too would love to hear as I am considering the same. :wink2:

Louisepug · May 3, 2004

Umm...anyone???

RosieGlow · May 4, 2004

lol... apparently we are all interested but no one has taken the plunge!

Raggedy Ann · May 5, 2004

HELLO ALL!!! I LOVE PSYCH. NURSING. I AM NOT YET AN RN. I AM AN LVN WORKING MY WAY THROUGH RN SCHOOL. I WORK AT A STATE SCHOOL. THE DORMITORY THAT I WORK ON IS HARD BUT EXCITING. THIS FACILITY IS DUALLY DIAGNOSED. MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL RETARDATION. UPSTAIRS IS MORE OF THE PSYCH THAT YOU GUYS ARE PROBABLY INTERESTED IN. DOWNSTAIRS IS VERY MEDICAL WITH THE CATHS, PEGS,AND SOME ONCOLOGY. BACK TO UPSTAIRS. IT IS SAD...MANY OF THE GIRLS WITH THE YOUNGEST BEING 18 AND THE OLDEST BEING MAYBE 40. MANY OF THESE PEOPLE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF DRUGS OR MENTAL BREAKDOWNS. ON A GOOD DAY, THEY ARE JOKING AND CLOWNING AROUND. NOW MY BUNCH...WILL TRY ANYTHING TO GET PAIN RELIEVERS...SO I HAVE TO REALLY ASSESS THE SITUATION TO ENSURE THEY REALLY NEED IT, AND NOT JUST WANTING"DRUGS". THIS IS SOMETIMES HARD, BUT YOU LEARN TO READ THEM. I TAKE NO COMPLAINT LIGHTLY, AS I TRY AND TREAT THEM LIKE I WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED. SOME JUST NEED TLC, AND I AM GOOD AT THAT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT PATIENCE. I HAVE WORKED IN THIS FIELD SINCE 1985( I WAS A SENIOR IN H.S.) ANYWAY...ON A BAD DAY...THEY MAY HAVE TO BE PUT IN RESTRAINT. PERSONAL HOLDS,MECHANICAL...WHICH INVOLVES JACKETS OR "THE NET" TO PROTECT OTHERS OR THEMSELVES FROM HARM, AND A LOT OF PAPERWORK IS INVOLVED. CHEMICAL RESTRAINTS WHERE YOU HAVE TO GIVE INJECTIONS OF GEODON, ATIVAN OR PO DEPENDING ON THE INDIVIDUAL. ANYWAY... I KNOW THEY ARE ALL THERE FOR A REASON, AND FOR THE GRACE OF GOD I AM THERE AS A CAREGIVER. SOMEDAYS IT IS EASY,BUT MOST DAYS ARE VERY BUSY, BUT I LOVE IT!!! I WOULD NOT TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD. I KNOW I AM LEAVING OUT ALOT OF INFO., BUT FEEL FREE TO ASK. MY RN SUPERVISOR IS EXCELLENT. AS A RN SHE DOES THE QUARTERLY ASSESSMENTS ON EACH CONSUMER TO ENSURE THEY ARE ALL UP TO DATE AND WELL. SHE IS AWESOME. SINCE I AM GOING THROUGH RN SCHOOL SHE TRIES TO DO SOME OF THE STUFF THAT I CAN'T DO, SO I CAN AT LEAST WATCH HER, SO I CAN LEARN. WE DO CONSCIOUS SEDATIONS FOR THOSE THAT WOULD FREAK OUT HAVING DENTAL WORK DONE OTHER WISE. ANYWAY.... SORRY FOR SUCH A LONG POST. HOPE IT IS HELPFUL. TRACI IN TEXAS :balloons: HAPPY NURSES WEEK!

Louisepug · May 6, 2004

Thanks for responding Traci! That was very helpful. :)

Kabin · May 6, 2004

Yes thank you very much, that does shed some light on a typical day. I bet there are moments of excitement.

Are there times when personel are threatened?

Is there quick request/response to/from security personel?

Raggedy Ann · May 7, 2004

Glad to be of help. Most of the time staff are not seriously hurt, especially the nurses. As a nurse and as direct care staff(aides) you are trained in self defense,which is called PMAB(Prevention and Management of Aggressive Behavior). It is performed as a restraint to protect the staff and individual displaying maladaptive behavior from receiving harm. You can also read up on each individual to learn their quirks. For example, We have one lady that if she gets scissors...she will use them on the closest person to her. For this reason, she never has access to them for any reason. If an individual is having behaviors, staff is usually great to assist to ensure of your safety while giving meds, treating them or assessing them. I really love it! Take care all! Sorry I am such a chatter box. I LOVE THIS FIELD! Traci

lucianne · May 7, 2004

I'm sorry you haven't gotten more responses. It could be because there have been several threads about this in the past. I'll find a couple and bump them up for you.