I am a pre-nursing student and just applied for a psych tech position at a children's psychiatric hospital. I don't have a psychology degree but have always been very interested in psych and was going to go for an MSW before deciding on nursing. My question is, do you think being a psych tech is helpful in getting a nursing job in psych later on?

Absolutely :)

Yes!!! It will help a lot. You will get to do a lot of patient care, vitals, run groups, etc. Do it!

It's a very good idea! It's great experience that will make the transition from psych tech to psych nurse a lot easier, and you will have a chance to see psychiatric conditions first-hand. And depending on where you work, it can be a networking move that will help you get that first RN job when you graduate :)

That is probably the best thing you could have done. Once you have your foot in the door, it would be much easier to get a job once you have your RN license.

That is probably the best thing you could have done. Once you have your foot in the door, it would be much easier to get a job once you have your RN license.

I'm living proof of this.

School paid for.

Psych experience.

Foot in door.

Full-time job offer on graduation.

Working now and love it.

Sweet.

Do it.

I'm living proof of this.

School paid for.

Psych experience.

Foot in door.

Full-time job offer on graduation.

Working now and love it.

Sweet.

Do it.

One of my classmates did that. The psych hospital she worked at as a tech paid for nursing school; in return she had to commit to two years' of working there. No problem for her--she wanted to be a psych nurse from the get-go. She had her tuition and supplies paid for and a full-time job with her desired shift on her home unit waiting for her.

It worked out very well for her...and for me: she suggested I apply there and give psych nursing a try. I did apply, they took on a chance on a new grad...and the rest is history :)

it's the best thing you could do for yourself, for your future...

This is actually very common. Many of the psych techs I have worked with have went on to become psych nurses, and of course get jobs right away b/c they are known to the facility already. Absolutely a smart move. You will get to see so much and learn great people skills, which will be essential once you become a nurse. You will have a hand up on those folks fresh out of nursing school who are green. Good luck:)

I just wanted to update. I haven't heard back from the psych hospital, but I did get hired at another large hospital for a job working with kids. It's not exactly psych nursing related, more community health, but I decided to take it since the job market is so bad and I need very specific hours. Well, at least I have a job at a hospital now.

Absolutely! Do it. I was a psych tech before and during nursing school. Now have been a psych nurse for 7 years. It was a very good experience for me. I hope you find the same is true.

Most *definitely*! I have been a Psych Associate ("Tech") for the past seven years and when people find out I'm in Nursing School the first question they ask is if I am going to be a Psych Nurse. I'm not planning on it (right away, at least), but I have already gotten job offers/promises for after graduation, which isn't for another year!

It's definitely VERY good experience if you're planning on doing Psych Nursing! I couldn't imagine going into Psych Nursing with just the amount of experience you get in clinicals......! Yikes.