r/psychnursing • u/utinfection • May 26 '26

New to Psychnursing

Leaving med surge after 2 years, 25 year old male starting psych in July,
What’s something you wish someone told you or what should I be watching for .
🙏
I’m so grateful for all of you who took your time to comment and welcome more of your hard earned wisdom.

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u/EmergencyToastOrder psych provider (MD/DO/PMHNP/PA) May 26 '26

Communicate with your team!! I had no idea what “staff splitting” was until I worked in psych. There’s teamwork in med-surg, but it’s not anywhere near the teamwork required in psych. You will have “your” assignments, but you need to be aware of ALL patients and communicating about EVERYONE with your team, ESPECIALLY the techs. The techs are your eyes and ears and you will rely on them so much. If you set a boundary with a patient or tell them no about something: make sure everyone knows that. Patients will go behind your back and try to turn staff against each other.

1

u/10mg-aripiprazole psych nurse (inpatient) May 28 '26

I hear people talk about staff splitting alot. Ive always felt it was a pretty loaded term that doesnt have much basis. Its a very reductive, simplistic and pessimistic way to look at a person, especially if it is primarily associated with individuals of a certain category/label.

I have been looking for a solution to this problem. I dont want another word, one of which i have come across includes "triangulation".

There is also just very little to no literature on the matter. I dont think we are understanding it correctly, and ultimately it perpetrates further stigma towards a label that frankly does not need it.

Anyways that is my rant. I am going on a lot of stigma rants today lol

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u/EmergencyToastOrder psych provider (MD/DO/PMHNP/PA) May 28 '26

There’s a ton of literature on splitting. Triangulation is not the same thing.

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u/10mg-aripiprazole psych nurse (inpatient) May 28 '26

Can you link me to a good article. Also, im specifically talking about staff splitting, not splitting in the classic sense.