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RE:Psych nursing in general- Pamela Detrick, PhD, APN

By Pamela Detrick posted 10-17-2010 11:06 AM

  
I am not a blogger. However, I felt a need to respond to the comment that the field of  Psych nursing may be in danger of extinction,( paraphrasing). If at any point you or others feel psych nursing is in danger of being eliminated for whatever reason, please speak to a Vietnam veteran or Iraq veteran who has received mental health services at their local Veteran's Administration Hospital or Outpatient clinic.

I believe they will tell you that Psych nurses (all levels) are invaluable and life saving on a day to day basis. I can tell you story after story of how a nurse literally saved a soldier's life be it while they were actively serving or sought treatment months or years later when Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Anxiety literally caused so much havoc in their lives that they wanted and often attempted to kill themselves. A nurse provided support, active listening skills, therapy, and compassion that gave them hope.  

No as far as I can see we are quite needed and always will be .

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10-24-2010 11:28 PM

I don't think the issue is that we are not needed, I think it is that getting psychiatric services paid for is getting more and more difficult. I work in a private practice and go to group homes/residential services. Getting insurance to pay and to pay fairly is very difficult. Physicians won't even do the services i provide anymore since the reimbursement is so difficult and so low when it is paid. I don't think it is just psych nursing I think it is psychiatry in general that is in trouble. It is difficult to get anyone including government to pay for services. Services we used to have are gone. I have seen practices, psych units, SA treatment, etc close over the last few years because no one wants to pay to help these people.