NursingLink

count me in.

tlc: it is funny how people react. they either back away and fear you are analyzing them, or they tell you all of their troubles.

Has any one ever heard this one?  "Psych Nurses are all Psych patients".  Then I tell them that I'm a Psych nurse and wait for their eyeballs to fall out?

We are the pros and we make these awful remarks to each other about psych care. "You have to be a little off" is one I have heard often about working in psych.

I just went through another hospital orientation and as usual was the only psych nurse in the class.  Of course, I got to sit through multiple "modules" that in no way have anything to do with what we do.  Does anyone else ever get sick of the phrase "this is how we do it, except you"  It amazes me that with the brain being the most vital organ in the body there is such a stigma attached to people whose brains don't function right.

I guess if you don't work with pretty people and cute kids and use lots of very expensive shiney new equipment you just not a "real nurse".

Wow! i didnt know psych nurses was considered a stigma, its wouldnt seem like the most logical thing to ridicule because in my opinion some have to do it, and its a branch off of the variations of the field of nursing. Psych nurses are very important, because everybody has a family member that could use one, ignorance, or even being aimlessly judgemental produces irrational comments and decisions.

mirn. good for you. ith the psych np you will be able to make a big difference

I think that the stigma comes from movies like "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" and Nurse Hatchett or whatever her name was. They make it look like the nurses just have the "bouncer" type aides hold the crazies down and the nurse injects them with thorazine (in the movie, it is electric shock treatments) whenever they "get out of line" or misbehave.

I have mental illness in my family.  It takes very special people to care for those with things like Bipolar or Schizophrenia, et.  We should support these nurses not make fun of them.

I have seen Psych patients coming in more and more with chronic medical illnesses, ie, diabetes, and the complications.  Tell me you aren't a "real" or a "medical " nurse to be able to explain to someone with very little money and resources how to try and control this disease.  We have many people who come to us off the street, with festering ulcers on their feet.  "Medical" nurses just have to change dressings, we have to explain nutrition and the importance of trying to keep their feet in good condition.  To a person who's mind is already spinning from trying to deal with a chronic mental illness.  It's extremely difficult explaining signs and symptoms and when to get to the clinic.  No disrespect intended toward other  nurses, but give credit where credit is due.

smox: yes, the patients with mental illness are going to have far more medical problems as you so cleary stated. Often, the complications of the side effects of the pzych meds will add to their problems.

I think that we have to look at WHY people go off their psych meds?  Lack of money? Poor counselling?  Side effects?  That's why we all need to be familiar with psych.  I'm sure that some of your patients on meds are treated on an outpatient basis.  So they don't benefit from our knowledge.  Especially the drive-by docs with the 15 minute med checks.  "Hi, how are ya, Heres's your scrip. See ya in a month."

Hi all. I am new to this site and was happy to see that there was one for Psych Nurses.  Rock on!!!  I read with great interest some of the comments some have received regarding psych nurses not being REAL nurses......good grief!!!!  Those who make those remarks are obviously very ignorant.  Also, if they are fellow nurses, they must have slept through their psych portion for sure.  A psych nurse has to be on top of his/her "game" on all levelsNOT JUST psych.  We have to be keenly in tune with the patient and be able to think OUTSIDE the box when the are presenting an illness or pain.  It COULD be very real and actual and not something that is somatic....................and if we are not on our game medically, it could mean life or death for that patient (and it has happened).  Heck, just the meds alone these patients have to take cause many medical illnesses and complications (diabetes for one.....................................)  For one to think we deal only with the mind, totally needs a reality check for sure.  Personally, I feel that psych nurses/specialists are more "subject matter experts" with regards to medical illnesses IN ADDITION to psychiatric illnesses.  Additionally, psych nurses also have to be "emergency/trauma" experts in some ways as well...............those who self harm, et al..............................I have worked Med/Surg, L&D, Post-partum, ER and I am also a medic....................in my short years as a RN, working psych is my favorite.  I currently am a charge nurse at a state hospital on a pediatric unit (ages 6-12). Talk about a challenge, but so rewarding.  I work other units as well, but my primary unit is Pediatrics.  The only thing I hate about working our state hospital is staffing issues.........not having enough staff for all the 1:1's et al................thereby, generally put in quite a bit of OT......................other than that...........it's worth it for the most part.   '

Another thing about working in psych is the other nurses are kind to EACH other, get along very well, treat each other very well, etc and the psych docs don't belittle a nurse nor talk down to them and overall are great to us nurses.......at least  at my facility.... I was made to feel very welcome the first time I stepped foot on the hospital...............from the Director of Nursing and so forth..............The hospital I worked prior, I wish I could say the same of some of the nurses there................ and had one doc that all of us really dreaded dealing with (especially in the ER when he was on)..............................

I totally agree psych nursing is very much a love it or hate it sort of specialty area and it truly does take a special person to be able to handle all that comes with it.........................and to look past the person's psychiatric illness and truly try to understand and most of all do all we can to ensure they still have their dignity, respect and not looked at as "loonies".................even within psych, there are those who can work certain areas and yet not others. For example, a LOT of the RNs just simply cannot deal working on our unit (Pediatrics), and if they have to be pulled from their unit to work ours (in case we are on vacation, et al), they simply won't do it.   Some cannot handle working Forensics...............some cannot handle Adolescents...........some cannot handle the "geriatric" unit....................I have found with working my unit, pediatrics, I can work ANY unit and in fact, some are just down right boring.......................... 

At any rate, let the others think what they may about psych nurses........I challenge them to come and do what we do and still return for more......................Yeup, Psych Nurses totally Rock IMHO............................Cheers to you ALL!!!!!