Interested in chemical dep.nursing

Specialties Addictions

Published

Hello I will be entering a RN ADN programim here in the state of colorado. I want to work in the chemical dependcy area. Can i have some advice how to gain exp. atleast where to start from? The state of colorado have a certfied addiction couselor program im not sure if thats for RN's but if i have to go through another college for the chemical dep.certfication?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Ortho, Stroke, and TBI.

Complete your program. I don't believe the program you're speaking of is a cert for nursing. There is a society (much like there is for every specialty) that offers certs in addictions nursing: IntNSA - International Nurses Society on Addictions

Also, since addictions is in the psych area, look at APNA for info Home - American Psychiatric Nurses Association

Psych and addictions is a great area of nursing! Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

There is a certification for addictions nursing: Certification - International Nurses Society on Addictions

You can get certified as a CARN (Certified Addictions Registered Nurse). But it's not something you can do while in school: you will need to be a nurse for 3 years, work at least 2000 hours in addictions nursing as well as complete 30 addiction-related CEUs, and that's before you can take the test.

As far as gaining some CD experience, while you are in school get a job as a mental health tech on a detox or dual-diagnosis unit (or any unit since you will see detoxing patients everywhere). That will help you learn more about CD and addictions nursing as well as maybe give you a foot in the door for a RN job there when you graduate.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have been on the APNA site, and browsed the internet for info. on this topic. It's kind of confusing, specifically this: on the APNA site, they have an FAQ and one question is "How can I become a PMHN?" The answer to that question literally tells you how the get an Associate's, Diploma, or Bachelor's, and then to take the RN licensing.

I realize that with only an RN you may work in PMHN, but it seems like the only way to really get trained/stand out as qualified to work in the field would be to get certified or specialized. It seems more like the only real way to do that is to go on to become an APN. or go for RN-BC. To test for RN-BC you need "2,000 hours of clinical practice in psychiatric and mental health nursing."

I am worried that I won't be able to get those 2,000 hour of clinical practice without experience/certification. While I am working on my ADN, is there anything that I can do to make myself a more desirable candidate to work in Psych or CD (with 'no experience')?

Also do you need a BSN to test for the RN-BC; it jsut states "current, active, RN"

American Nurses Credentialing Center. http://www.nursecredentialing.org/PsychMentalHealth-Eligibility.aspx

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

No, you don't need a BSN to pursue certification: I don't have one (yet) and I successfully tested for psychiatric-mental health certification. All you need to do is meet the requirements for testing (the hours, years' experience, CEUs) and you can sit for it. And despite what AN's acronym list says about RN-BC and RNC, my title is in fact RN-BC...because I wrote ANCC to ask them :)

You will get those 2000 hours when you start working as a nurse in psych. If you are going for PMH in general that could be in any psych area; if you are pursuing addictions certification, then you need to get them specifically in an addictions field. I was hired into CD as my home unit when I first started at a psychiatric hospital so I had no problem accruing both psych and addictions experience. I may pursue the addictions certification down the road--right now I'm exploring a few other areas in psych.

A good way to improve your desirability as a candidate is as I said before: get a job as a mental health tech. That will give you experience working with psychiatric patients, plus you would be an internal candidate for RN jobs when you did get licensed. Also, see if you can do your senior preceptorship/practicum in a psych unit.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hello I work on a Behavioral Health Unit, and I do work with client's going through different types of addictions. Sometimes they can be a little hard to deal with, but overall at the end of the day I feel that I have done what I can do to help them get through their recovery. I'm a nurse, and I'm currently working on my Graduate Certification in Addictions at Kaplan University. I think it's about five courses that you have to take to get the certification. I will be moving back out to Colorado in maybe another year or so not looking forward to the cold weather, but hopefully the job outlook will be ok when I do move back that way. Goodluck

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment