Psych Tech - clinical experience?

[skeletor06]

I work as a psychiatric technician in a nationally-renowned psychiatric hospital (top 3 in the country). Most of our patients have major mental illnesses; many have dual-diagnosis substance abuse or medical issues, as well. I take and chart vitals, do rounds on patients, and have daily interaction with nurses and IM and psych physicians.

Most of my experience is mental health related (crisis intervention in medical centers and hospitals, as well as telephone crisis intervention). I have shadowed a family medicine DO for 25 hours, and am getting a LOR from her. I also participated in Baylor College of Medicine's summer surgery program in 2006, where I shadowed and scrubbed in on surgeries for 400 hours.

My question is, since I am studying for the MCAT in May and working 40 hours a week at the psych hospital, as well as finishing classes, I'm not sure where to find time to volunteer at a "regular" hospital. Am I good on clinical hours? I guess I'm just worried that since most of my clinical hours are mental health related, I might need something else on there, as well. Any help would be appreciated!

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[BestDoctorEver]

I work as a psychiatric technician in a nationally-renowned psychiatric hospital (top 3 in the country). Most of our patients have major mental illnesses; many have dual-diagnosis substance abuse or medical issues, as well. I take and chart vitals, do rounds on patients, and have daily interaction with nurses and IM and psych physicians.

Most of my experience is mental health related (crisis intervention in medical centers and hospitals, as well as telephone crisis intervention). I have shadowed a family medicine DO for 25 hours, and am getting a LOR from her. I also participated in Baylor College of Medicine's summer surgery program in 2006, where I shadowed and scrubbed in on surgeries for 400 hours.

My question is, since I am studying for the MCAT in May and working 40 hours a week at the psych hospital, as well as finishing classes, I'm not sure where to find time to volunteer at a "regular" hospital. Am I good on clinical hours? I guess I'm just worried that since most of my clinical hours are mental health related, I might need something else on there, as well. Any help would be appreciated!

You are MORE than good for clinical hours.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Psychiatric patients are tough to deal with. There's no doubt you know what you are getting into.

 

[skeletor06]

So, I'm good, even though all of my clinical hours are in psych? I just don't want to get dinged for it not being "well-rounded", or whatever.

 

[kinzav]

So, I'm good, even though all of my clinical hours are in psych? I just don't want to get dinged for it not being "well-rounded", or whatever.

You're fine. If you have an interest in psychiatry then you're more than fine. If you have an interest in pediatric cardiology, it might be weird to say so, having no experience with it(but not necessarily negative if you can explain why). The fact that you worked in the field puts you a couple steps ahead of most applicants because you know the intricacies of working in the hospital already.

 

[Psychonergic]

I work in both EMS and Emergency Mental Health services. I really enjoy how I get see some many diverse aspects of health, especially the mental health side. I'd agree that you're getting a rich clinical experience, as well as learning how to deal with very difficult patients. Kudos to you if you're interested in psychiatry - I know I am!

 

[JDMcNugent]

Just articulate well that the work as a tech at a psychiatric unit was direct patient care on your AACOMAS. Refer to the experience on your app as "direct patient care", "hands on", "clinical experience" etc and if you get an interview and are asked about it, make sure to describe it as a clinical experience.

 

[HopefulReapp]

Of course it is clinical experience. I have the same position, but on a medicine floor so I deal with psych and non psych patients.

I do have to ask though, how exactly are you interacting with physicians? We are nurse aids, not physician aids. The only times I speak with physicians it is asking their advice on medical school, not anything clinically relevant to their patients. Maybe it's different where you work?


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[skeletor06]

Of course it is clinical experience. I have the same position, but on a medicine floor so I deal with psych and non psych patients.

I do have to ask though, how exactly are you interacting with physicians? We are nurse aids, not physician aids. The only times I speak with physicians it is asking their advice on medical school, not anything clinically relevant to their patients. Maybe it's different where you work?

We sit in on team rounds every morning with the treatment team, which includes the psychiatrist. We also sit in as part of the team when the psychiatrist, LCSW, psychologist, etc. meet with the patient as a group to discuss how treatment is going. I have gotten to know several of the psychiatrists personally.

 

[HopefulReapp]

We sit in on team rounds every morning with the treatment team, which includes the psychiatrist. We also sit in as part of the team when the psychiatrist, LCSW, psychologist, etc. meet with the patient as a group to discuss how treatment is going. I have gotten to know several of the psychiatrists personally.

Neat, it sounds like it is more of a team effort then I guess. After I get report from the previous PCA and write down orders, I just immediately go into the room to do vitals and introduce myself to the patient.

Does the rounding actually benefit you in terms of the care you provide to the patient? I can't imagine much changing day to day for long term patients, but then again I don't really deal too much with real psych patients.


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[skeletor06]

Neat, it sounds like it is more of a team effort then I guess. After I get report from the previous PCA and write down orders, I just immediately go into the room to do vitals and introduce myself to the patient.

Does the rounding actually benefit you in terms of the care you provide to the patient? I can't imagine much changing day to day for long term patients, but then again I don't really deal too much with real psych patients.

Well, this isn't a "normal", acute-care psych hospital; all of the patients are self-pay ( and they pay A LOT of money to come here), and they're all self-admitted. The average stay is 6-8 weeks. We don't take any committed patients.

Team rounds really does help, because we spend more time with the patients than anyone else. We take them on outings to buy things they need from stores, or to the movies / dinner, etc. So, sitting in on meetings with the team really helps us get a feel for how things are going with each patient, and we can then use that to be aware of things that might come up if we're off the hospital grounds (for example, if a patient had a really bad meeting with his psychiatrist, it is good for us to know that if he's going to be at a movie theater and might take out his anger on someone that works there, or something). Usually we don't have any issues like that, but it's good to be aware of things that could possible come up.

 

[medhead1990]

my answer to you is yes! I have worked at a psych tech at a drug rehab for the past 2 years, and that was the vast majority of my clinical hours (95%). I had very little if any volunteer clinical experience (i think i have a total of 10-20 clinical volunteer hours). Not to say I dont have volunteer hours, however these are in different capacities other than clinical setting. Overall just be well rounded and you will be fine.