UNTOLD STORIES OF THE PSYCH WARD. (What it's like working in a psych ward) | The Patients |

Hey there, in this video, I'll be sharing my experiences of working in a psychiatric hospital, specifically focusing on the patients I've encountered over the years. I'll be sharing several stories about some of the most memorable patients I've worked with, including a talented musician named Logan, a woman who claimed to have committed murder, and a man diagnosed with psychopathy who had a sudden change in personality.
I'll also be discussing some of the challenges that come with working in a psychiatric hospital, such as patients who harm themselves and those who have committed heinous crimes. My aim is to provide you with insight into mental illness and the experiences of being a patient in a psychiatric hospital.
If you're considering a career in this field, my hope is that this video will give you a better understanding of what the job entails. I believe that understanding mental illness is crucial in reducing stigma and promoting empathy towards those who are struggling. So, please join me in this journey and let's explore the untold stories of the psych ward together.
00:18 Intro
01:55 Patient 1 Logan the Piano Player
03:55 Patient 2 Mary the Angry Lady
08:35 Patient 3 Antoine, I want to Kill Her
15:00 Patient 4 Jennifer, Pseudoseizures and Goosebumps
22:00 Patient 5 Marcus the Psychopath
26:45 Patient 6 A Seductive Woman
28:25 Patient 7 Bob--I own the hospital!
29:45 Patient 8 Elizabeth Self-Harmer
32:14 Patient 9 The Puncher
33:40 Patient 10 The Mass Murderer
36:45 Patient 11 Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity--Broomstick and Mom
39:30 Patient 12 Highly Intelligent Patients
41:50 Their Experience is Real to Them

[@christianrap5789]

Bro, I am about to start nursing school with the intent to become a psych nurse. I would not even consider nursing if not for psych. I know I have much to learn, but this video is so insightful. Thanks alot!

[@teschchr122]

Those of us with bipolar unfortunately end up in the psych wards frequently. Either the mania is bad or the depression is so profound that it’s not uncommon, with perfect med compliance, to end up in there 2-3 times in a tear. It’s no picnic, I can tell you. I’m surprised they actually have doors. We had curtains. Cold, unappetizing food. A lot of people that don’t really belong there. Others that are scary. Many of the attendants don’t care. It’s scary. Playing the game is exhausting because that includes attending all the classes, many of which include coloring pictures. Unfortunately many that end up there are some of he most intelligent people you would ever encounter.

[@nealacarter4194]

I completely understand where you're coming from, working in that line of work! I worked in that field for 13 years. I spent most of my time in group homes and day centers. I went from being a regular staff to team lead, to site manager and supervisor, to program manager, to case manager. They want us to believe the medications are helping them and it's actually making them worse, most times. I have worked in centers that had trache unit etc. It gets deep, all people are not born that way! Things happen accidents, a suicide attempt, shaken baby syndrome! I had to leave the field! It's deeply depressing... I'm now an office manager for a home health care company. I am grateful I have the experience I have, because I am very well aware what goes on. I hold a lot of my consumers in my heart still to this day. It soothes me when I see staff that actually do care, because these people have been through so much! They don't trust anyone!! I completely understand why...

[@kathleengivant-taylor2277]

Ofcourse with what u have seen and been exposed too u would have a tendency too have more jaded attitude

[@binahnguyen3006]

Thank you for your service as a forensic psych nurse. I heard forensic psych is the hardest, major kudos to you brother. I’m a junior nursing student, I had to take a year off from school to attend to my mental health. Because of that I feel a lot of empathy for this population and I plan to precept in psych for my senior year. Thank you for representing psychiatric nurses well. I feel there’s a mental health stigma for psych nurses like we are not as intelligent as med-surge. All nurses are very intelligent because we have to check for pharmacist and physicians’ medical errors. Why?! Because when it comes to medical errors nurses are the last person on the line to catch it and the first to loose their license!!!

[@biggbbear6300]

Psych nurses took the same courses an exam as so called regular nurses

[@TracyCPoetry]

I am so moved by your level of compassion for your patients. It makes me so excited about making a drastic career change into psych starting next week!

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

I'm excited for you--you're going ot have to keep us posted on how everything goes and what it's like for you!

[@nurseheem]

Graduating next month. Psychiatry has always been my passion. Lots of influence on me to go into medical specialties, but seeing you, hearing the genuineness of your words and experience has solidified my love for this field, I know that this is what I want to do with my life. Keep being you

[@Egoliftdaily]

Thanks for sharing. I'm a psych nurse in my country. Yes, it really is heart breaking to see some of these psych patients. Seeing what they go through also makes me more appreciative of the good things about my life.

[@tiffanym6358]

Your story telling is 100% amazing. You need to write a book!

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

thx for your comments Tiffany :). I'm jealous you're getting to work w/ kiddos--i feel like that's my forte

[@mdavis3262]

Just a bit of advice…the thumbnail is dehumanizing to those with mental health diagnoses

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

agreed and thx for the feedback. Changed the thumbnail :)

[@LonelyCow1984]

And he's a psych nurse 😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@theapachevikingnomadfromhell]

The institution that treats patients so poorly is a lot more offensive.

[@samdehne2859]

your compassion is so heartwarming, thank you for your service

[@blondieblu8819]

I’m so happy I found your channel. I recently did my psych rotations and loved it. Listening to your stories and viewpoints gives me a real view into psych nursing. Thank you so much!

[@louisaakpabli4335]

Wow! Just watching this got me so heartbroken 💔 already, and I'm yet to go for a psych RN interview in 2days (switching specialty) but also super nervous for this interview because it's the job I've been praying for, and so badly want to get it. I can see how passionate you are talking about the encounters with these individuals. Unfortunately, we often forget that people with mental health issues are equally human like everyone else, and should be treated with compassion, dignity and respect rather than seeing them as "crazy people".

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

You seem like a great person Lousia--good luck w/ your interview and remember--the field of behavioral health needs compassionate individuals more than anything so they are LUCKY to interview you!

[@louisaakpabli4335]

@@A_Psych_Nurse That's very nice of you. Thank you. Pls keep the videos coming in... VERY HELPFUL!🙏

[@karissam9768]

Thank you for sharing your stories and insights. I just switched to psych nursing and even though it's my first week all my colleagues have been telling me their stories! I agree it's how nurses decompress, even outside of psych.

[@ronniemitchell1473]

Hi! I worked on a psych ward for 25 years, as a psychiatric social worker. Most rewarding job I ever had and I would have never left except for covid. This was two years ago. After that I retired, but I’ll never forget my patients, they were and are my people. Miss them all and my 25 years with them and I hope they miss me. I can tell you have a big heart and get it.

[@daaz2005]

I recently took a ft postilion at a hospital, as a first time psych nurse. i come from a wound care / hyperbarics / infection control background (technical stuff and data)... i was pretty anxious about what i had done until i found your videos. At this point, i have lots of experience with mental illness from my personal life with family and friends, and your videos are helping me prepare by making connections between what i know from that to what i have learned as a nurse. Thanks for being so unbelievably chill and informative about everything, you are an excellent presenter.

[@Anna-jb9cr]

Thank you so much for your precious infos! I'm watching you from Italy and you help me to be open-minded and see how the things are going over there on the other side of the World. I appreciate you. PS: I am struggling with BPD since they discover my illness 10 years ago

[@dylanhicks9895]

Excellent content brother. You're exactly the type of person we need working in psych wards

[@pacaldo5142]

I love listening to your stories. I will be deployed as a psych in these coming months.

[@smallisbeautiful2808]

It seems to be mainly Haldol that causes the flat affect - especially in excessive doses. Now, Risperdal/Risperdone seems to bring out the person's "best self" (at least if the person is already good/kindhearted and agreeable under normal circumstances anyway), however in high doses can cause drug-induced Parkinson's and cause them to slip and fall easily. My guess is that many psych hospitals choose to overmedicate patients with high doses of Haldol to make them easier to "babysit". Now, that would be fine if those particular psych hospitals would allow the patients to sleep 24/7... But forcing patients to stay awake for the "normal" 16 or so hours a day and participate in daily activities when they're overmedicated with high doses of Haldol seems cruel.

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

Agreed! All the antipsychotics will cause flat affect (zyprexa, risperidone, haldol, etc.) and I've always wondered why we have such high expectations for people taking major tranquilizers (i.e. antipsychotics). . .it does seem cruel.

[@colematthews7535]

Awesome, exactly what I was looking for as a nursing student. Thank you.

[@FranzrXclusivE]

What an amazing video. So much insight and so much awareness in the field of psych nursing. I was actually offered a job in a local psych/behavioral hospital and I respectfully declined because I do not consider myself strong enough mentally and emotionally for it. In a way, I do not have that “poker face” haha. But this video serves a great purpose for those who might be considering a job in Psych, and I will definitely recommend them to watch your videos for guidance. Thanks so much.

[@Puffthemagicgecko]

Wow. I can tell you really care. You completely understand that these powerful antipsychotics take away a person’s essence.

[@victoriaramos3388]

I just wanna say what an awesome guy you are. Such an inspiration for me and others 🙏🏽🙂❤️

[@wendydarling1745]

Being held on a suicide watch traumatized and agitated me WAY more than ANY help I received. Disaster! Trust is GONE!

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

yeah I've always thought the experience you had was a definite possibility for a lot of our patients. I also struggle w/ finding an alternative. Curious to know how you think it should have been handled and advice you may have, thank you Wendy!

[@kekec4chitown80]

Thank you for sharing your stories !! You are what I aspire to be as a psych nurse in the near future.

[@thelilliad]

Love your work! 💙🙏

[@reddbendd]

This is better than any movie I’ve ever watched before

[@dmtdreamz7706]

At last they declared to me that I was becoming dangerous and that they should lock me up in a madhouse if I did not hold my tongue. Then such grief took possession of my soul that my heart was wrung, and I felt as though I were dying; and then . . . then I awoke.

[@BillynTarplain]

Good content....I am a psych nurse as well in NYC....so my senses are heightened...thank you

[@amandaboateng9159]

Awesome! I’m a new grad in NYC and I’m interested in working in psych. Would you be able to recommend any hospitals to work at? I know Mount Sinai, Bellevue, and NYP have psych units.

[@BillynTarplain]

@@amandaboateng9159 Mount Sinai and NYP Gracie Square.....are great....Bellevue is hard core psych with a forensic section ....if you're ready to take that on. ...Good luck!

[@BillynTarplain]

@@amandaboateng9159 Metropolitan Hospital and Elmhurst are also good places to start

[@amandaboateng9159]

@@BillynTarplain okay cool, I’ll be applying to Mount Sinai. NYP Gracie doesn’t have a Union I believe. I had an interview with NYP BK Methodist and the starting rate for new gad on medsurg oncology was 54/hr. I hope it is more for psych since it’s a specialty.🤔

[@janetnash8588]

@@amandaboateng9159 I will have to disagree with the Mt Sinai assessment. I was a patient in quite a few NYC hospitals after the combination of my mother dying very young, being sexually assaulted and kidnapped left me alone and broken inside. I was also an IBEW electrician and worked in every hospital in NYC, and the clinics too. Mt Sinai is such a nasty hospital that the patients had a rebellion because they were extremely abusive. One young man I ran into later in another hospital was beaten so badly that he was crippled and had to walk with a cane for the rest of his life, hunched forward like a little old man. They went through my personal belongings and the nurses mocked me for the personal things that I had written in my journal. They also often stole patients' belongings, including mine. We all watched as a clearly and dangerously psychotic patient beat another depressed patient bloody and unconscious, because the nurses thought it was funny entertainment. They had zero separation for depressed and dangerously psychotic patients, which is the worst thing to do to someone who is depressed...and it is incredibly stupid. This was also a problem at Cabrini who mixed in psychotics with sad people who are probably there because they have been victimized and traumatized in life. Cabrini was also so stupid that they only had caffeinated coffee and sugar drink as the drinking fountain did not work and free coffee and sugar was all there was going on. So they had a lot of sudden new diagnoses of "mania"...because they are idiots. But at least they weren't a gang of psychopaths that drive the patients to a rebellion, organized and led by one depressed patient who I remained friendly with, and who was and still ius a brain surgeon. Anyone can get depressed, and you never know who you might meet in a psyche ward, so my advice is to never be an abusive control-freak psychopathic creep like a very great number of people that work in psychiatry are today. Gouvernir (sp?) Hospital and their chain of clinics in NYC are extraordinarily good. They have been some of the first to discourage psyche meds among patients. They are not all perfect but they could teach the rest of the world about good loving and supportive mental health care. Jaime Inclan who runs the Roberto Clemente center is in touch with reality, whereas others in the field are not. Bellvue I have been a patient and worked in quite a bit of work in fact. They are an extraordinary facility with cutting edge methods and equipment, and it is very affordable and far far far better than the abusive horrific private hospital next door called "NYU". They should be shut down. Elmhurst is fine, and so is Beth Israel and Kings County. Columbia Presbytarian was a very filthy dirty place where they couldn't even seem to be able to keep the public bathrooms sanitary.

[@Peace-ub3le]

I’ve learned so much from my patients ❤ thanks for sharing

[@hopeup2792]

It was a great video, thanks for the share.

[@ktrudy1]

Very informative vid and so interesting. Ty❤❤❤

[@baileyhallfilms]

your stories are really interesting and this was a excellent empathetic dissection cheers

[@elizabethpiveronus3359]

If I worked in a place like you do I would definitely have a therapist.I had a prof once that always said in the helping professions always have someone to talk to.

[@eorsmarkos6135]

excellent. thanks

[@cr-nd8qh]

I've been to the VA psych ward multiple times mostly self check ins for drug and alcohol abuse. I've seen so much insanity there. Wow

[@gretaholmes783]

Are you on Twitter? I am a 27y now disabled psych nurse. I LOVE WHAT YOU ARE DOING. I would also love to connect and share I stories. I had my kids 10y apart-and was HepB immunized. The offer in the birthing room floored me! Cracks began to form in my view of my whole career.

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

KZbin is the only social media I really do, more or less. Thank you for the comment. Do you mind sending me am email at [e-mail] and we can touch base, thx.

[@giocarlini8882]

Jesus Christ, this is my favorite video.

[@MarcieAnne-do3yq]

Why do no psych “professionals” look at the spiritual aspect of these behaviors like demonic possession/oppression?

[@JustMe-ec9uh]

Can you do a video on question to ask during daily assessments, what to expect in the beginning of working in an inpatient setting and what medication dispensing looks like. I am looking to start an assignment for inpatient for the first time and am extremely nervous 😓

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

This would be a great idea for a video. Some quick thoughts: if you're coming from medical, any kind of psych "assessment" will be a walk in the park for you. Really you always want to rule out danger to self and danger to others (e.g. if pt. has hx of self-harm, I might ask, 'when's the last time you felt like hurting yourself?') Daily assessments though. . hmm. On inpatient you'll always ask when they're last bowel movement is done. This is usually asked by whomever is doing meds (b/c then obviously they can provide a PRN for constipation). But generally when I was working inpatient there weren't a whole lot of "assessments." The 'correct' answer is that you're always assessing your patient, but it's more of a just. . .how does it seem like this patient is doing? Is there a change in baseline behavior? Are they behaving differently than they normally do? Are they usually up and about pacing, and now they're in their room isolating? etc. I also find myself assessing patient's pain using the whole PQRST mnemonic. I feel like my answer here is lacking, so maybe I will make a video lol. Hopefully this is helpful :)

[@cherrypop41]

I don’t hear voices to harm people but I do sometimes have these negative thoughts/feelings to do it, for no reason at all. And it just nags and nags and nags and the intensity becomes stronger🙁 Do you know what that could possibly be? I’m getting treated for bpd and on a bunch of meds(this all started before the meds though)

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

I wonder if you have some unaddressed underlying resentment towards someone? (this is me taking a wild guess). Would be curious what a therapist trained in psychoanalysis would make of this. Have you had a chance to meet w/ one? And how have the meds helped you?

[@cherrypop41]

@@A_Psych_Nurse no, no it’s definitely not that because it would be random people that I don’t even know (ex, people at the store) I have a psychiatrist who thinks I have bpd. So I’m on meds for that, and yes they do help, only problem I have is, I feel like a zombie a bit, but it’s not too bad.

[@Diana-sb4yl]

Finding a good therapist is like finding a good hairdressers.. Plse seek a therapist whom u can work with along with the drugs u r taking if u r happy to take those pills. Not everything can be cured with pills it only plasters the wound.

[@Peace-ub3le]

God Bless you!!

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

thx for the support Virgo :)---you work psych too?

[@hurricane_valence]

What are you take on people with antisocial personality disorder? I am diagnosed with that. I enjoy people with bpd though I have a freind who's diagnosed with bpd

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

some of the most intriguing conversations i've had as a psych nurse has been those diagnosed w/ APD. Often they are charismatic and highly intelligent--at the same time there's that side to them where they seemingly lack empathy and that can be kinda scary.

[@hollehpazouki7623]

So true

[@karafitz998]

I had a major delusion that caused me to think that the hospital was a big army base and I was being recruited by someone there and everything was a test, which was why I did not want to take their meds. I spent over a month in there with that delusion and I tell you there are some amazing nurses and some awful ones. The best ones were the ones that didn't make me feel like I was less and heard my concerns. In the end, I made it out because they wouldn't let me see my daughter unless I took the antipsychotic. The amount of clarity it gave me left me in disbelief. Today I am very stable but wish sometimes I didn't have to take any medication. I hope to come off mine one day as I'm an artist and it really affects my abilities.

[@gracealbert2542]

I remember in high school I needed to be put on meds and it didn’t really help me I was still angry and depressed and they made me gain weight

[@tiffanym6358]

Wow…such a great, compassionate, and in depth video. Do you have an official Instagram? I’m a new psych nurse and I love watching your videos. Liked and subscribed!

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

thanks Tiffany, this is my only social media :)

[@Chaz60]

I appreciate you and after your introduction, I can see you truly care about your patients. At first I thought you were the type who enjoys telling stories about the lowest points in a person’s life and then laughing and making fun of us psych patients. I’m glad this was not your purpose. However, I would caution you not to use the word, “crazy” in your future videos, for obvious reasons. I have spent plenty of time inside a psych ward, due to severe depression, suicidal ideation, ptsd and self harm. I was a police officer and I broke my neck and back in an avoidable workplace “incident” (accident would suggest it wasn’t intentional). Besides suffering major spinal cord damage and partial paralysis, I also suffer from chronic, uncontrollable pain. I have significant nerve damage, lost the use of my bladder and for 20-30 minutes tops, I can drag my broken body around. After that I am in too much pain and can’t feel my left leg, while my right leg feels like it’s be stabbed with a red hot poker. I have had over 20+ surgeries, including major spinal infusion surgeries and I’m still counting. After the incident, I was fired from my job and doctors didn’t believe I was in as much pain as I was and still am. Most days I couldn’t get out of bed and couldn’t sleep due to the pain, which was often between a 7-10+. I started cutting and carving my arms and legs, just so I could feel a slightly different pain, which sort of helped take my mind off the neck and back pain. I was also very angry and took it out on my useless body. I just wanted my suffering over with, so back then, I began taking the necessary steps towards ending the pain. This landed me in the psych ward, where I was misdiagnosed and heavily medicated. I also underwent ECT treatments, which I wish I never did, because I lost major chunks of the few good memories I had. Strangely enough, ECTs never erased any of the horrible memories I experienced as a Police Officer. I was ignored, gas-lighted, made fun of, misdiagnosed, doped out of my mind, put-down and thoroughly embarrassed for being a former Police Officer in a psych ward. I finally learned the only way to get out was to act “normal” and say the words these egotistical bastards long to hear, so I could make my escape. Afterwards, I finally found a pain doctor who is trying his best to help control my pain. Even though it doesn’t work and I’m always in a lot of pain, I learned from my psych ward experience, to wear a mask, say nothing and endure the suffering. I stopped feeling and caring about life, yet I manage to get by. I know I’m not “all better” and I honestly don’t know what I should do. I refuse to return to the psych ward, especially because these doctors don’t have a clue how to help me. Regardless, I will keep on going, while passively looking forward to the end of my story. Thank you again for this video. I did meet a few good nurses and psych technicians and I just wanted to let you know that we do notice and appreciate the good ones like yourself. Sorry for the novel. Stay safe and continue the good work!

[@TheMagpieOfficial]

The dramatic/erratic BPDs…

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

yes. . .I have the CRAZIEST story to share regarding this, but I need to wait for some time to pass before I share it :)

[@leinad5243]

So if meds do that what do u suggest for schizophrenia?

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

Something similar to the Soteria house/moral therapy. Once that's been tried and unsuccessful, then antipsychotic w/ the hopes of being able to use it PRN/minimal dose/titrate off.

[@jenna1798]

Unfortunate that that's how many people feel about those diagnosed with BPD.

[@earthlyglo4753]

In my observation, the voices have also seem to have a compulsive component to them as well.

[@DjPrespley]

It's interesting to me how you say you like working with the patients but the staff ehhh to me. Because the most traumatising aspects of psychiatry are not dealing with the "other loonies" to me but the prison mentality of the staff and punishment /"reward" system they had

[@fallonrappaport5270]

They need to stop putting people from jail on a regular psychiatric ward. They become problematic and target patients.

[@apostoliagkolfinopoulou3776]

I'd really appreciate it if you answered me this. Why do you have such a negative view on medicine ? It is odd for someone in the mental health field. I think if medicine can be avoided it definetely should be I dont like medicine but I would never say that it drains the soul out of (all) people. I think what you said applies to those that are heavily or improperly medicated . I took antipshycotics and I felt a lot better personally. My mom said I was flatter than usual (I'm saying this to be completely transparent) but I personally didn't feel that way I felt a lot better . You are obviously a very compassionate person I dont mean to ""shit"" on you at all. I'm more so asking to see what your stance really is as a professional.

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

I appreciate the question and encourage people to shit on me, despite you not shitting on me :). I'll make a video response to this, thx Apostolia.

[@apostoliagkolfinopoulou3776]

@@A_Psych_Nurse haha you gave me a laugh and thank you very much for responding!

[@Ivy20242]

I wonder if the patient with bpd was possessed or maybe experiencing psychosis or maybe another personality referred to as "it". But honestly sounds like an exorcist scene what she said. Scary The psych patient telling the workers to go work lol (finally someone saying it. Joke) Noooooooo it must have escalated when the punch person punches

[@ngwenya1441]

Do seclusion rooms have beds inside??

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

every seclusion room I've seen does have a bed inside of it (presumably this is more b/c of that's where the pt. will be restrained than it is where the pt. will sleep). the bed is bolted to the floor and is mitigated for safety (e.g. made of strong plastic, can't be cut, etc.)

[@ngwenya1441]

@@A_Psych_Nurse so what happens when the patient becomes agitated inside the seclusion room, wont the bed be a danger to the patient?

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

@@ngwenya1441 I suppose it could, then again pretty much everything could, including a wall. I've seen pt's punch themselves in the face, scratch themselves, etc. If it's that bad then typically they are chemically and physically restrained.

[@ngwenya1441]

@@A_Psych_Nurse ❤️

[@ngwenya1441]

So how proteected are psych nurses,,, in a situation where the patient becomes violet and starts attacking you,,,,, and you would want to defend yourself,,,, and in the process of defendin yoself the patient gets hurt??,,, How is that handled and how protected are you as a psychiatric nurse?

[@reddbendd]

:)

[@reddbendd]

I am enraptured

[@kathleengivant-taylor2277]

U seem too really care about ur patients as people instead of just a chart, patient only with mental illness but people with needs, wants, dreams, goals, and just want too be heard and understand a lot of times not just medicated. Ur mental health care system is too quick too medicate patients instead of trying everything else first. Except in extreme temporary situations should be a last resort as alot of these mds have serious and sometimes dangerous side effects

[@hopeup2792]

Nick do you believe in God?

[@A_Psych_Nurse]

Not yet :)

[@bystanderbutch3509]

You do what you have to do. Thanks for your help

[@cleanandgreenketo]

Love this response!

[@me-thebusta610]

Winnebago mental health in Wisconsin. HORRIBLE !!!!