Remember, everyone... I'm not a nurse... I'm a psych tech.  So, my question may seem a little naive.

Patient:  Mentally slow (non-Down Syndrome), people I would call mentally retarded, but I don't know if this term is acceptable any longer.  Anyway, you know the people I'm talking about... the generally have extremely low IQ but don't have the physcial charactistics associated with Down Syndrome and the can function to some degree in society on their own.

My observation:  Yes, there may be anger issues, but I don't think these people are necessarily mentally ill.  But, some of their behaviors might lump them in with a more mentally competent patient exhibiting the same behaviors.. landing them in a psychiatric ward.

Is this patient landing in the right place when he/she lands on my unit, or is there a better place for this patient?

diane316 says ...

It sounds like they are in the right place, being placed in your unit? I believe the correct term today is "mentally challenged".

 

 

I think if I was out in public, I might say mentally challenged, but I have heard the abbreviation "MR"  used in a clinical reference.  So, I'm curious if MR is used officially or not.

I think a mental health unit is better than prison for these types of people. I have seen these types of people in prison. They are often victims within the prison.