Anyone here work in Mental health?

[blessedatlast]

I am thinking of going into mental health.. When I think of long term nursing and how I can relate my life experiences it all comes down to mental health, grief, depression etc.. Mental illness interests me & I'm really excited to do it as a subject this semester. Also in aged care, I enjoy working with dementia residents more than the one with higher physical needs...

Anyway, one thing that scares me, is I think I could be easily intimidated by a physically violent patient. I know you are taught self defence etc, but I'm not sure how I would go, and if someone smells fear, well they basically have you.. I'm not sure I would be able to 'act' authoritarian.. Does that make sense?

In aged care there are sometimes physically abusive residents and they don't scare me, but maybe because, although they can be strong, I know they are physically weaker than me and couldn't move as quick etc.. I have never had a bad experience and I think maybe because I am not scared. I don't have fear, so they can't play on it.. IYKWIM??

I hope I'm making sense! I'm not really that physically strong either, so I think someone my own age or younger could really intimidate me.. How can I overcome that?? Any experiences or words of wisdom would help because I really think thats what I want to do..

[LizLemon]

Hiya

I don't but a friend of mine up until recently was working in a mental health emergency team. They would be on call and go out with either ambos or police to pick up people who are in emergency situations. She would then follow up in hospital or wherever with the patients.

I know she found it challenging and frustrating, as it really highlighted to her the limitations and underfunding of the mental health system. She was also put in very intimidating situations (even with the police there), although she is a very tough girl so I don't think that affected her as much as some of the other aspects.

She has recently moved into a different role away from mental health and while she doesn't have as many interesting stories to tell I get the impression she finds it less stressful. I think it was starting to get her down (much like being a cop or something - you are exposed to the scariest and saddest elements of society) and affect the way she viewed life.

Having said all this I think she does recognise the huge contribution she was making to people with mental health problems. I think it would be sad if someone who has a particular interest, like yourself, didn't pursue it in some form.

Sorry I can't give you a more personal perspective. Good luck with what you decide

[Tuesday's Child]

My mum worked as a disability careworker. Even though she wasn't 'in' mental health, she still had clients with mental health issues. She underwent something called PART training (I can't remember what it stands for). It not only taught self-defence, but also how to prevent a situation from escalating. There was a situation with a client that resulted in Mum taking time off as stress leave before she'd undergone the training (the consequence of understaffing and underfunding). But the training gave her the tools to remain rational so that she didn't react by instinct and it gave her the confidence to deal with difficult and violent situations. She eventually became the primary carer of that client. I'd imagine that training for mental health workers would be similar.

Also, some GP clinics have mental health nurses on staff. That might be another option for you, as I'd imagine that in that environment you wouldn't be seeing 'the worst of the worst', IYKWIM.

Good luck!

[willow5]

She underwent something called PART training (I can't remember what it stands for). It not only taught self-defence, but also how to prevent a situation from escalating.

PART - Professional Assault Response Training.

Good luck with whatever you decide Can always do with more good people in metal health!

I work in aged care, I wouldn't under estimate those oldies I've seen people with some nasty injuries from them

[Ambah]

I've just started a job in mental health as an AIN, whilst I finish my studies. I hope to work in mental health when I graduate as a RN next year. I also did my mental health prac last year... and TBH, I didn't see one violent incident. It really depends where in mental health you are working. Places like the Psychiatric Evaluation Centre, and High Dependency Unit, and forensic mental health would see a lot more violence than say adolescent or geriatric mental health. (Emergency Depts also see a fair bit of violence...)
Even mental health in the private system, which seems to predominantly deal with things such as PTSD, eating disorders, PND, etc - I can imagine they would see even less violence than on a general medical nursing ward (as these can have violent patients too).
Today I actually completed day 5 of my ABM training (agressive behaviour management). Before I started I was quite sure that I was not assertive enough, and ill equipped to deal with any sort of escalation... but seriously, the training was brilliant!! The first 3 days dealt with general situations, and self defense (which I think is relevant to every nurse or healthcare worker!). And the last 2 days of the training was all about takedowns, restraints, and placing a client in seclusion in the safest manner possible. I can't speak highly enough of the training, it made a huge difference. The trainers helped set up realistic situations, and the hands on experience makes such a difference to your confidence levels.
I'm really appreciative of my new employers LOL, because as soon as I was employed (only 2 weeks now) they put me through the training straight away. So if you do end up with a job in mental health, make sure you push for the training ASAP, as I dont know if all hospitals/instituations put their staff through it as quickly as my hospital did.
Good luck with everything... I felt exactly as you did, and have been really happy that I've stayed true to my aspirations, it been worth it so far

[teresa]

Good on you for wanting to do mental health! There are not many people out there who feels they can work in that field of nursing.

I work as a nurse in a busy emergency department and we see a lot of mental health patients. It is quite daunting at times and a bit scary.

I suggest you work as a nurse for a couple of years first then decide if you still want to do mental health. The best way to gain experience in mental health is by working in emergency. You will gain plenty of experience and it will help you get some of that authority you feel u might lack. I hope that makes sense

Good luck xx


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[Tuesday's Child]

PART - Professional Assault Response Training.

That's it. Thanks willow

[willow5]

That's it. Thanks willow

Between you, me, and DP we got it out

[blessedatlast]

Thanks all for your replies..

Teresa - Emergency is one place I have NO desire to work, but maybe thats just due to lack of confidence.. I know in nursing there is always chance of a code or some sort of life threatening emergency, but I'm not sure if I could handle the full on pressure of that all the time.. Tell me more.. Any stories of experience will inspire me..

Tuesdays Child - A Gp's office sounds good to me.. No shift work

Willow - I agree, a friend of mine was on compo with a sprained wrist after a dementia resident grabbed her.. I guess what I was saying is I don't have the fear factor. I know it could happen, but I don't let it bother me.. I think if a 6 foot tall man with say schizophrenia was standing over me, I would be terrified and I think it would show to everyone!

I have 2 other areas of interest.. Cardiac and sexual health.. I would like to work with paeds or adolescents with congenital heart problems but I think to get there I would have to spend YEARS in a cardiac ward with mainly old people.. At risk of sounding awful, (I'm not heartless, truely) I don't want to work with old people. I know they will be in ANY area, but there would be lots in cardiac.. With sexual health, I am assuming I would have to work a lot in womens health before I got to work in a sexual health clinic.. I couldn't deal with miscarriages, terminations, hysterectomies, etc at this point of my life.. Way too emotional.. THESE are all assumptions though, so if anyone can tell me different I would be happy to hear it..

[MrsBexie]

From a patients point of view, there is such a need for nurses who care, who listen and who love...

When I was going through all my crap and was in the psych ward, there was only one nurse who seemed to care, who saw me as more than a crazy person that has no name, just a number on a file...
She got me through that time in hospital because she cared.

If you want to go into mental health and you have the passion and the heart to help people, I say go for it. Yes it will be challenging but the mental health system needs you if you are willing.

It's a huge choice and good luck!!!
Xxx

[Sunny Love]

Anyway, one thing that scares me, is I think I could be easily intimidated by a physically violent patient. I know you are taught self defence etc, but I'm not sure how I would go, and if someone smells fear, well they basically have you.. I'm not sure I would be able to 'act' authoritarian.. Does that make sense?
I hope I'm making sense! I'm not really that physically strong either, so I think someone my own age or younger could really intimidate me.. How can I overcome that?? Any experiences or words of wisdom would help because I really think thats what I want to do..

Go for it! You will develop skills through experience that will make you more capable of coping with most MH situations, being authoritative requires you to develop a professional and nurturing relationship, not an easy task, but not impossible . No one finds the job easy, but im sure it is rewarding intrinsically. Have a go, you owe it to yourself to try. Good luck
xx

[Catastrophic]

I can only tell you from my experience from my placement. I was like you a little unsure. but I got to work in the lock down adults mental health unit. And I loved it!!! I was a little apprehensive at first as j didn't know what to say because I didn't want to set them off.. But the nurse I buddied up with just told me to act normal say hello and chat. So that's what I did.

I helped admit a schizophrenic patient, male, we did all the admitting forms and first consult showed him to his room and spent Alot of that afternoon with him, it was only the next day that I got told to stay away as he is reAlly dangerous with physical violence.

I got a little worried one day, when a lady started going off, I was more worried about the other patients, hehe she set the fire alarms off.

On my last day I got told from the director of that department she would hire me as soon as I graduated if I wanted. And a few of the staff went out of their way to tell my facilitator how well I did.

Maybe you might surprise yourself? You will learn all those things your afraid of xoxox I hope you work in he area you really want xoxox

It's going to take me a few years (heaps of years) to get where I want to end up. Which is an independent midwife specializing in mental heAlth disorders.


Love MN ;-)

[mrsmac]

My SIL is a nurse and she has been attacked in a variety of different wards so I don't think its limited to Mental health!
DH has a mate at work who worked as a nurse in Mental health for years, he ended up as NUM in a mental health ward and worked in a number of secure units, he found it challenging and interesting but in the end is now a postie cause it was too stressful.

[willow5]

It's going to take me a few years (heaps of years) to get where I want to end up. Which is an independent midwife specializing in mental heAlth disorders.

Wow how good is that!! Now here's me showing my ignorance, I didn't know there was such a thing

[blessedatlast]

Thanks again to all who replied.

Mummenurse, I hope you get where you wanna be! Sounds interesting

Mrs Mac, I agree. Nursing can be dangerous anywhere. People act out of character when they are emotional or in pain.. I guess it's still a bit of a stigma though that people with mental illness could be more dangerous..