Psych Setting Activities

Hello everyone.
Im a RN new to the psych setting.
Ive recently taken a job in a mental facility where they treat all ages.
I work with adults and children.
Each day I work I am to have a "nursing hour' where I do an activity of my choice with the patients.
On the SCU untit, I work with adults that have split personalities, severe depression, complte breaks, those detoxing, etc... not high functioning.
On the PCU I work with patients that have voluntairly checked themselves in b/c they feel depressesd and or suicidal.
On the YCU I work with kids from age 4 to 16 that have every diagnosis you can imagine!
Anyone have any suggestions as to where I could find some ideas for activities? They dont have to last a full hour. Some of the hour can be discussing the activities results.
For example, with the youth last week, I drew an outline of a T-Shirt to cover a full piece of 8x11 paper, copied it several times, cut the T-Shirt out and asked them all to draw what they would like everyone to know about them. I got shirts with I Love God to thier favorite foods.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Christina

Christina75457 wrote:Hello everyone.
Im a RN new to the psych setting.
Ive recently taken a job in a mental facility where they treat all ages.
I work with adults and children.
Each day I work I am to have a "nursing hour' where I do an activity of my choice with the patients.
On the SCU untit, I work with adults that have split personalities, severe depression, complte breaks, those detoxing, etc... not high functioning.
On the PCU I work with patients that have voluntairly checked themselves in b/c they feel depressesd and or suicidal.
On the YCU I work with kids from age 4 to 16 that have every diagnosis you can imagine!
Anyone have any suggestions as to where I could find some ideas for activities? They dont have to last a full hour. Some of the hour can be discussing the activities results.
For example, with the youth last week, I drew an outline of a T-Shirt to cover a full piece of 8x11 paper, copied it several times, cut the T-Shirt out and asked them all to draw what they would like everyone to know about them. I got shirts with I Love God to thier favorite foods.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Christina

Hi Christina,

I have been working in a similar setting for about two years though I seem be dealing with a Middle to High Acuity (Mid to low fucntioning) One of the things my patients like a lot is Kareoke (sp?). I also do a community group to get the patients to talk about their goals for the day. I find I learn more about my patients by seeing how they respond to various group setting. Occasionally I will take groups of 2-3 patients to walk on the grounds. The more relaxed and comfortable the setting the more you learn about your patients.

Hope this helps

hppygr8ful