First job in mental health - suddenly I'm a bit scared!

[Emma Herself]

Weeks on and I've finally finished the health check, so perhaps maybe perhaps I'll get a start date soon. Oh I hope so, there's only so long I can hold the dole off from dropping my benefits!!!

Thanks for the luck everyone. And yes, I should have done some work experience, but never mind. So, anyone else, do some work experience!

 

[maya]

The violence in mental health wards is rather more likely to be experienced by the patients than the staff.

i'm not so sure about that- i know from people working/frequenting wards that it seems to be the other way around...
really aggressive and/or violent patients direct their anger mostly at staff, but become politeness itself around other patients...

(an exception is the sometimes toilsome sexual interest/light harassment from male patients towards female patients/staff)

 

[RubyToogood]

Good luck Zoe, I think you'll be great at it. Teach em all to knit . But make sure you look after yourself as much - go home and really switch off, do something totally different to take your mind off it. And if it does turn out to be stressful, it's ok to stop.

 

[toggle]

Good luck Zoe, I think you'll be great at it. Teach em all to knit . But make sure you look after yourself as much - go home and really switch off, do something totally different to take your mind off it. And if it does turn out to be stressful, it's ok to stop.

wot she said

 

[likesfish]

try to give up smoking if you do staff will rob you blind by cadging fags
trust your instincts if something feels wrong its probably is

 

[Emma Herself]

You guys rock

 

[GoneCoastal]

My Mum spent 8 months last year in either a psych hospital or a EMI ward (now in an EMI home) with acute and sudden onset "Alzheimers type dementia"

There was only one instance that I was worried about and that was when she fell and broke her thigh in the hospital. On the whole the staff were very caring and good

I'm damn glad people are going into the profession of caring for those who are mentally ill ... it's a much needed profession. I understand you're not going to the Elderly area but none the less - Thanks !! (& thanks to anyone on this board/thread who is in the Elderly care area)

P