You need only just look
I was at a training for my per diem job a little while ago and before it started I caught the beginnings of a nurse who was telling us about she unfortunately ended up on the other side of the fence and was recently hospitalized for some health issues. (All are resolved, thank God!) She kept saying if it wasn't for this other nurse (who had no idea what was going on) who cleaned her car of all the snow that had fallen, she likely wouldn't have made it to the emergency room in time. As soon as she was finishing the story, the "other nurse" walked in. Neither had met one another, and let's just say as soon as they met, there were lots of tears. Happy tears. Grateful tears.
I'm not going to lie; life at work has been a little hectic. The acuity is one of the highest I think the unit has ever seen. A lot has been seen and heard that I hope these eyes and ears don't see and hear for a while. Noisy. Just very noisy. It's like being surrounded by constant chatter; constant, rapid, nonsensical chatter. Throw in a few fights and that's where things have been camping out for a while. I've noticed though that's the pattern especially around the wintertime, everywhere I've worked. Because let's be honest, who wants to be outside when it's cold? I've never been homeless (thank God), but I imagine when desperate times call for desperate measures you'd seek solace anywhere you could...even in a locked psych unit. You just have to know what to say, or what to do. Now I'm not saying that's the way it is for all homeless patients. Heck, for some of the not homeless patients that's what happens; knowing what to say or what to do.
I remember years ago when I first started this line of work thinking to myself about what would happen if I ended up on a unit like where I worked. All I know is that a, I hoped I talked to someone before I ended up there, and b, I'd take a good, long and hard look at myself, wondering "how did I end up here?" Because I'm telling you, even though it's declared from some of my patients how much they "love it here," truthfully, I don't think that's so. I wouldn't like anything about being on a psych unit; someone laying eyes on you every 15 minutes, and I do mean...every 15 minutes. (even when you're in the shower). Getting skin searched on the unit. Having to put away all your cute clothes or risk them getting destroyed because they're not safe to wear on the unit (goodbye drawstrings!). No phone whenever you wanted. No kinds of food you really want to have. Limits and control on EVERYTHING. Some would argue I'd be worse on a unit, not better. But the structure is so good for some of my patients. And so are the staff.
I've had patients tell me before "you guys are angels" or "I don't know how you do this." Some days I don't know how I do it either. By the grace of God, really. That and it's a calling. I believe that. I have to believe that, otherwise I wouldn't have the strength to get up and do this day after day. I hope that I'm an angel to someone. Even one person, and it would make all the difference in the world.
I'm not going to lie; life at work has been a little hectic. The acuity is one of the highest I think the unit has ever seen. A lot has been seen and heard that I hope these eyes and ears don't see and hear for a while. Noisy. Just very noisy. It's like being surrounded by constant chatter; constant, rapid, nonsensical chatter. Throw in a few fights and that's where things have been camping out for a while. I've noticed though that's the pattern especially around the wintertime, everywhere I've worked. Because let's be honest, who wants to be outside when it's cold? I've never been homeless (thank God), but I imagine when desperate times call for desperate measures you'd seek solace anywhere you could...even in a locked psych unit. You just have to know what to say, or what to do. Now I'm not saying that's the way it is for all homeless patients. Heck, for some of the not homeless patients that's what happens; knowing what to say or what to do.
I remember years ago when I first started this line of work thinking to myself about what would happen if I ended up on a unit like where I worked. All I know is that a, I hoped I talked to someone before I ended up there, and b, I'd take a good, long and hard look at myself, wondering "how did I end up here?" Because I'm telling you, even though it's declared from some of my patients how much they "love it here," truthfully, I don't think that's so. I wouldn't like anything about being on a psych unit; someone laying eyes on you every 15 minutes, and I do mean...every 15 minutes. (even when you're in the shower). Getting skin searched on the unit. Having to put away all your cute clothes or risk them getting destroyed because they're not safe to wear on the unit (goodbye drawstrings!). No phone whenever you wanted. No kinds of food you really want to have. Limits and control on EVERYTHING. Some would argue I'd be worse on a unit, not better. But the structure is so good for some of my patients. And so are the staff.
I've had patients tell me before "you guys are angels" or "I don't know how you do this." Some days I don't know how I do it either. By the grace of God, really. That and it's a calling. I believe that. I have to believe that, otherwise I wouldn't have the strength to get up and do this day after day. I hope that I'm an angel to someone. Even one person, and it would make all the difference in the world.
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