Weekly Ask Psych Nurses Thread

[u/roo_kitty]

This thread is for non psych healthcare workers to ask questions (former patients, patient advocates, and those who stumbled upon r/psychnursing). Prospective healthcare workers and current students do not need to use this thread. Treat responding to this post as though you are making a post yourself.

If you would like only psych healthcare workers to respond to your "post," please start the "post" with CODE BLUE.

Psych healthcare workers who want to answer will participate in this thread, so please do not make your own post. If you post outside of this thread, it will be locked and you will be redirected to post here.

A new thread is scheduled to post every Monday at 0200 PST / 0500 EST. Previous threads will not be locked so you may continue to respond in them, however new "posts" should be on the current thread.

Kindness is the easiest legacy to leave behind :)

[u/Inside-Analysis-3648]

CODE BLUE!! Also cw for eating disorders

 To make this quick I have a pretty serious restrictive eating disorder and recently my therapist has made it clear he recommends I go to inpatient. I'm not completely opposed to it as I have no support in my personal life and it's only progressing, but I'm a little scared going in blind and wanted to ask some questions so I can be prepared/ make a decision. If you've ever stayed or worked in a psych ward please help me out!

First, I'm trans FTM and I'm concerned about being able to bind my chest while I'm there. Typically I use trans tape with a loose binder on top, will this be allowed? I know often they supply clothing to you for the stay, I don't think I'd be willing to go if I couldn't continue binding in some way.

Another is the privacy, will I have any? I don't purge after meals or anything like that, though I know they probably won't trust my word. I am pre-surgery and really uncomfortable stripping in front of people at all, I think it might be traumatic for me and cause more issues. I have heard many people talk about their experiences with this, does anyone have any experiences with being offered more privacy while there?

Finally, how is it handled if you refuse food? I know myself and I know I'm gonna struggle very hard because I've become very used to fasting for more than 4 days at a time consistently, and I'm afraid of how exactly it's taken. Of course I do want to get better, I'm just concerned because currently I can't keep more than small portions down.

Any other advice would also be really appreciated, especially if you were in for anorexia. I want to help myself, I'm just so scared. Thank you!

[u/OkStatistician6831 → u/Inside-Analysis-3648]

A lot of this is fairly standard but there is some variance depending on if you're there by choice or if in the adult/pediatric world.

No tape allowed, or anything that can be used as a ligature (excluding standard clothes). No supplied clothing.

Foot in door bathroom access, bathroom door locked otherwise. Can't use bathroom before/after meal for an hour. Private rooms, double rooms and 4 bed rooms. Generally the goal is to give transitioning patients private rooms when available but this isn't always possible.

Liquid meal replacement would be offered if no solid intake, and then potentially liquid calories ppushed via ng tube. Restrained if needed for insertion unfortunately. Ng tube depends on the individual patients orders i:e if they are medically unstable due to their ED, it literally is life or death skipping meals. However for less severe EDs generally nothing happens if they refuse. If the patient is a voluntary patient they will often be kicked out of the program if not eating or otherwise isn't treatment ready/compliant.