Mental Health Nursing...
...is different to "proper" nursing. No uniform, no forelock touching to Consultants, its all good stuff. Secrets ?

1)We (and OTs and CPNs etc etc) write reams of assessments which no one ever reads - care plans, needs assessments, CPA docummentation.
You know the very end of "Raiders of the Lost Arc" with the arc in a box in a HUGE warehouse ? Thats all the work we've ever produced; filed away for ages.

2) Counselling is bollox - just reflect all the time "Nurse, how am I?"
"How do you feel you are ?"
Rinse and repeat.

3) Current students are crap - not their fault, the syllabus is a complete joke. 3rd year students can quote chapter and verse on the Gov'ts proposals for single mothers with Bi-polar disorder, but cant administer basic medication.

4) Despite evidence on the contrary on this site, drugs CAN fuck you up - many of our clients are 16+, psychotic as hell and will be like that for life. Yes theres only a small chance of a bad reaction, but is it worth it ?

5) It is virtually impossible to get fired from the NHS - short of Murder or blatant theft you will be moved to a "quieter" area - you find all the shit staff in the same place.

6) TBH 9 times out of 10, when someone is pouring out their heart about their childhood / upbringing / abusive relationship Im planning my next cuppa or B3ta trawl, but nodding sympathetically.

7) Their are MANY staff who've been in th ejob 30+ years, retiring in 3-4 years who DO NOT GIVE A TOSS and do the absolute minimum of work possible, delegating to other staff for "A second opinion".

8) We still havent had our frickin pay rise - you know, the one in April ? (Still at least we got one I suppose unlike some poor workers).

9) The Unions are a JOKE - basically they posture and spout hot air then bend over, grease up and ask the Gov't to service them.

Im sure theirs more.

/and relax....
(kitescreech still here, Sat 29 Sep 2007, 18:30, Reply)