[dijmart]

i'm an r.n. student & i had been thinking about going into psych nursing after i graduate in may, but when i took psych last semester and let my plans be known to my instructor she said " ...but, you have anxiety...(pause)...you haven't had OB yet, maybe you'll like that!" & walked away!

i feel she had basically said i'm not right for psych nursing & i shouldn't do it? first of all, my anxiety is "mild" & is definately triggered by nursing school. this instructor saw me right before a med/surg skills test & i will admit i was anxiety ridden (but, i didn't want a clinical "F")! also, i'm not perfect, i do sometimes get depressed, but does that mean i shouldn't do psych? how can a psych nurse not have their own negative emotions sometimes?.....i do know when to be professional and not let that affect patient care....

anyway, she really discouraged me at the time, but my mind keeps wondering back to psych nursing, even though i've looked into many other things that i could do. do you think it would be a mistake for me to go into psych? i usually don't let people deter me that easily, but i figured "she's" the expert?????

[dijmart]

oohhh & i forgot to mention that about a week later at clinical my instructor said out of the blue to another student "boy, you'd be a great psych nurse!"... .....this other student has zero personality???? basically, a flat affect!

[babynurselsa]

Don't sweat it. IF you want to be a psych nurse after you graduate then go for it.

[PedsRN1991]

Hi there,
Well, was this instructor a psych nurse??? It was my experience many many years ago in nursing school that the instructors aren't the best judges of us students. I sooo hope that you are not discouraged. I am not a psych nurse, and I have all the respect in the world for those who are (just like nurses in any other field). Does the instructor mean that in nursing school you shouldn't be on an emotional roller coaster??? Get real. I have never done anything so stressful in my life. If psych nursing is what you want to do...more power to you. You will do everything in school. If you are still drawn to psych nursing...go for it! (((HUGS))) to you!!! Don't let that instructor bring you down!

[donster]

Originally Posted by babynurselsa

Don't sweat it. IF you want to be a psych nurse after you graduate then go for it.

Right now, you have a full plate until graduation. After that, pursue whatever field you want. Your instructor was expressing her opinion based on whatever minimal information she had. Go with your gut and don't let her deter you.

[psalm]

...I had the impression in nursing school that some instructors would try to "push" or "encourage" certain people into certain fields or even a certain hospital floor because of the need of that floor. I was told I was great with the elderly and should go LTC until I built up my time management and speed. Before my last clinical and that instructor, an instructor who never had me for a clinical was telling me I would be great in neuro...(which I did as a student extern the summer b/4 3rd semester and loved it).

So, do whatever you are drawn to. BTW, we use our psych training all over the hospital, LTC and even at home with the fam! (and a doc or two, hahaha).

[dijmart]

Originally Posted by PedsRN1991

Hi there,
Well, was this instructor a psych nurse??? It was my experience many many years ago in nursing school that the instructors aren't the best judges of us students.

yes, a psych advanced nurse practioner! but, most of the students think she has a few screws loose herself!

and you're right, she doesn't KNOW me??? i don't think i had one conversation w/ her that didn't pertain to her class or the nursing program. thanks so much to all of you for helping me "see the light"....

[IMustBeCrazy]

Originally Posted by jackie53

...I had the impression in nursing school that some instructors would try to "push" or "encourage" certain people into certain fields or even a certain hospital floor because of the need of that floor.

Saw that too. One unit couldn't keep staff AT ALL and guess where we were encouraged to work? You guessed it! If you ever see a unit that can't keep staff around, run, don't walk!

[Marie_LPN]

Originally Posted by babynurselsa

Don't sweat it. IF you want to be a psych nurse after you graduate then go for it.

Exactly.

[ms_orion]

Go where you want to go......there are many success stories by people who were told 'they weren't good enough'