SO FAR TWO BRAVE SOULS HAVE RESPONDED! WHY ARE MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS SO SHY?
I do have to say that there are some excellent, caring, professional individuals out there. Unfortunately, from my experience, they number in the few.
I became a "defacto" Psych Nurse when I left my job in an ICU for more
dependable hours at the local state hospital. I guess I haven't seen the
behaviors that you have listed amongst the nurses I've worked with (save
the 11-7 shift maybe). Some of our techs would plant themselves behind the
desk and not seem to want to move much, but that was the minority. When I
sat at the desk, it was to do documentation. I felt it was a very visable
spot to chart as clients could see me and know where I was at if they were
in need of something. If someone needed something I felt I was available.
I had to chase down my clients to be able to have 1:1 meetings with them. I
rarely accepted any food (much less take it without an offer) from clients.
I thought our nurses were pretty active with the clients. I do recall many
clients who were unhappy that they were at our hospital due to mental
health board commitment. I can understand why they would see all people
involved with a negative light. I also remember a % of clients who would
say "You don't care about me" when what they meant was "You won't take care
of me". I can understand some of their frustrations also.
I'm not saying that all psych nurses are angels. I know better than that.
But I also know it's unfair to group them all into a generalized catagory
of uncaring individuals that ignore and steal from their clients.
I would like to respond to the feedback about psych nurses who defy the stereotype.
I work two nursing jobs, one as a psych nurse in an acute psych unit (locked)
at the biggest hospital in my state and the other as a PHN at a Community
Mental Health Clinic. I know a small group of nurses who are very committed
to providing excellent health care to psychiatric patients on whatever basis
they see them. Still, I know that an awful lot of the nurses I work with are
people who have lost their interest in nursing. They have lost their
confidence in their med/surg skills and they know that they can continue to
earn nursing wages and work regular hours as psych nurses. If I could make a
dollar for everytime I saw these nurses cower from venturing out of the
nurse's station .. well .. I would be wealthy. We focus upon our
ever-increasing paper-work. We are all-to-willing to leave the hard work to
aides who are often more educated in mental health care than the nurses are.
If we complain about the downsizing and cutting that occurs in mental health
nursing, we can at least accept some of the blame. We do not generally
practice real psychosocial nursing. Instead, we cover our butts and fill out
the forms. These patients deserve much more, and if we are registerd nurses,
we are qualified to deliver the care they need. I just wish that more of us
weren't so burned out, so out-dated in our medical and psychosocial skills,
and so full of anger. When I see a really committed psych nurse deliver
care, I am filled with inspiration.
Most of my fellow nurses are filled with frustration.
robbie@siscom.net(NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS!)
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