October 2008 Weddings
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Lissy, Autumn (any other nurses/students?)
Have any tips on getting through the psych-mental health rotation?
I'm having such a hard time this semester. It's not that it's hard, it's just depressing. We're not fixing anyone. We're not really making anyone feel better.
My rotation is at a full psych hospital, so we see a lot of the bad cases. A lot of the frequent flyers will say, "I know exactly what to say to get out of here. I will not comply with treatment after discharge". It's just so sad, you know?
Ugh, it's just emotionally draining.
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Re: Lissy, Autumn (any other nurses/students?)
I LOVE psych. I really do. I think it may be something I want to do after graduation if L&D falls through. I will say that it is one of those fields that takes a passion...either you love it or you hate it. I haven't met anyone who's been in between. It all came too me pretty quickly, maybe because I loved psychology as well and there is a lot of that. It really interests me (or maybr I just need to be committed haha)
Listen, girl...these are not patients that can be "fixed". It's not gonna happen. These are people who are sick in a different way than general med/surg patients. You don't give them a shot and make it all better. The patients have usually been through something very traumatic in their life and they are lacking the coping skills that the majority of the population have or certain neurotransmitters are over or under-producing in the brain causing whatever issues they have. There's not a "cure" for any of it and most of the patients will be on long-term treatment and/or therapy.
It's not necessarily sad, but I can see where you're coming from. You just have to remember that regardless of how ill these patients are, they are still people and desire the same types of things "normal" people desire; love, friendship, someone to talk to, etc. Be patient with them. Read thoroughly through their charts if they are difficult to communicate with. You may learn some very interesting (not to mention pertinent) information just based on the chart. Just sit and talk with them, or just listen. If they ramble or have echolalia or are delusional, just sit with them. Who says you have to talk? Isn't it nice to know someone is just there sometimes? Don't be nervous or afraid, there's no reason most of the time, but if a dangerous situation does arise, remember that you can simply yell "Help!" there WILL be another nurse close by to help out.
If you have any specific questions, let me know. I don't mind. Hope this helps a little...
Thanks autumn!
It's hard for me to come to grips with the fact that we can't really fix them. But it is nice to talk with them. A lot of them have burned a lot of bridges and don't get visitors. I know especially with students they see us as the only "friend" they have at the time (obviously it's strictly a therapeutic relationship, but I know they find that hard to distinguish, especially with students).
I think I might even like mental health nursing on an outpatient basis. But the hospital I'm at is so depressing
Inpatient mental health is not for me.
Autumn had a lot of great advice.
That said, psych/mental health was just not my cup of tea. It is so emotionally draining and it is so hard to remain neutral throughout it all. That for me was the hardest, though it was do-able. But at the end of the day, I was taxed.
I will say that coming out of that class and clinical I had a brand new respect and understanding of mental illness and those who suffer from it. I will say that prior to going in, I was one of those a-holes that was largely unsympathetic and though that most needed a quick, swift, kick in the pants and get their life in check. I am fully admitting now that I was so utterly ignorant and naive. And truthfully-scared. I am thankful that I had the chance to learn and realize that.
These people need to be helped just like any other patient. But the way you "help" them is by listening, and being present and helping them help themselves. Its a completely different type of nursing and it really does take a special someone to dedicate their lives to helping these individuals.
Just do your best. Thats all you can do. You will survive it just fine, I promise. :-)