AIBU to think I can be a mental health nurse without being physically attacked?

[Treebauble]

I have been thinking about going back to university now that my children are a little older to go to university for nursing. My dh says I should do adult nursing and I was really interested in doing mental health nursing, specifically with the aim that I could work with youth with issues such as severe autism. My DM thinks if I go in to mental health I will be forced to work in a ward where I will be physically attacked and it will be understaffed, so it could be quite dangerous. I don't know if I am being naive. AIBU to assume there is adequate staffing levels of nurses in mental health so there would be many people around if any patient were to get violent and that it would be safe? For those that know, is adult nursing less risky?

I work in LD and mental health and have ended up twice in A and E. Patients frequently bite, punch, scratch, kick and grab your by your hair. The patients I have worked with are very violent and although it is not their fault they can leave your with life changing injuries. It is not for everyone but I found it rewarding work.

I have never said it was justified, I said it was understandable when faced with substandard services.

I don't see the difference roses for me 'understandable' means you think that on some plain, it's acceptable and ok.

I work in mental health.

You could work in the community?

You need to remember that most people with mental health difficulties are more likely to be the innocent (vulnerable) victim rather than the perp.

Wards are notoriously understaffed, I work in the community and have no experience of the wards. The very few occasions I have been on them I have felt intimidated. People say you get used to them though.

I work with potentially dangerous people (psychosis team) and I've only felt physically threatened once and had to call the police, that was a service users father.

Service users will have risk assessments etc, anyone overly dangerous should have a no lone worker policy.

Please remember that service users are just people, like you and I, who simply need extra support at the moment. It doesn't in itself make anyone more dangerous (unless someone is in the midst of a psychotic episode or such like)

Previous Support worker/ current nurse. I have been attacked in both roles by, neurotypical, people with learning disabilities and mental health issues. Police have been called on multiple occasions and i’ve had numerous head assessments.

Getting into nursing there is ALWAYS a risk. People are unwell and react unpredictably.

I’ve come home with better bruises from work than from my rugby matches.

I think you’re being unreasonable sadly.

I have a psychology undergrad degree, went into it with the intention of working in the mental health field. However it just wasn’t for me. Aggressive patients are unfortunately part and parcel of clinical mental health care - the patients are unwell after all and need specialist care.

That’s not to say that medical staff deserve to get assaulted and treated awfully - not at all. However the field isn’t perfect and endearing and motivational - you will have to deal with difficult and dangerous patients (think offenders etc). You have to bare in mind that these possibly rude or violent patients are still unwell and still need support, they may not have full control over their actions. There are policies and procedures in place to protect staff but honestly you shouldn’t consider the field unless you’re comfortable with the negative side.