new grad might be hired in psych but debating whether or not to take the job

[dedicate]

Hi all,

I have a question. I am a new grad. It is so tough getting a job as a new grad right now. New grad programs have 1000 people applying and only 15 or so get in. My dream is to work in post partum. Although it seems difficult to get into post partum as a nurse with no experience. My question is-I could possibly be hired as a psych nurse. In your opinion, should I take the position or should I wait until more new grad programs open up so I can get into a program and get the "acute care" experience most positions now a days want? If i work in psych, wouldn't it be hard to get my foot in the door to a hospital and work on a post partum, Operation room or med surg floor? Does anyone know of nurses who worked psych first and then after a few years got jobs in the hospital on floors such as post partum, med surg, operation room, etc? I feel it would be easier to transfer from post partum/med surg to psych, rather than psych to med surg/post partum. Honestly I have no interest in med surg, but many nurses told me its good for new grads to start there because of all the experience we get. Then again, other nurses said you can go straight into your specialty and be fine.

Please give me your opinions. I'm not sure whether or not to further speak with the psych recruiter and get my foot in the door at the psych facility. I just hope I don't regret it in the long run if hospitals disqualify me from jobs because I am an experienced psych nurse, but not an experienced nurse with acute care experience.

But then again, in this tough economy I feel like any job is a good job. I'm so confused and need some advice! Thanks

[cocoon2butterfly]

I graduated in May 2008, first nursing job started in January 2009 was pediatric psych in a private hospital for a year and a half, and then switched to working med-surg at one of the top pediatric hospitals in the country...had almost no orientation at the psych job, and a 10 week orientation at the pediatric med-surg...and it's going a lot better than I would have assumed coming from the psych background - and I rather enjoy it! I think the main thing is learning how to prioritize and delagate - once you get that down, those skills travel everywhere...the medical skills do come back, so no worries...I say go for the psych job (and considering how this economy is to new grads, if you get the job, take it!) and switch later!

Good luck, and let us know what happens! :)

[Zookeeper3]

Many years ago I was in a similar situation and there were NO jobs. I had to take a geriatric psyc. job to pay the bills. I HATED IT!!!!!

-But I learned many unique ways to get confused, demented and psychotic people to comply with care from eating, to taking pills to calming down.

-I learned how to interact with frightened family, and the crazy ones from the same family tree.

-I learned how to monitor without technology for the slightest changes in condition (true assessment skills).

-I learned the importance of a MAR and how so many meds interact with each other.

-I learned a multitude of medications and chronic patient conditions from working with the elderly

-Learned how to interact with the anti-social, bipolar and schizo young adults when floated

And I learned how to interact with peers, how to form new peer relations, the in's and out's of how to deal with all types of staff personalities as well as management. The most important thing in that first year of nursing was that I was blessed to have an old battle axe as a mentor whom taught me all of the above as well as how to chart and cover my behind.

A year later, I learned everything I needed to know about how to be a successful young nurse except "skills". But I was dang well prepared to add those on to a solid base of all the above when I moved on to the hospital in an acute unit. Finally I learned that I can learn something new every day, no matter where I was if I was willing to.

Food for thought!!!