[yuyu75]

can you tell me what it takes to be a psych nurse (degree wise). I am currently a 33year old stay at home mom. I plan to go to start my pre-reqs and get into the nursing program. I am only going for my Associates in nurseing (due to time and money with 2 children). Eventually i will go for my BSN, just not right now. I LOVE the mental health field. Read everybook on eating disorders, substance abuse, etc, etc. I hope to work with adolescents in crises. I want to be a psych nurse, working in a psych hospital, or even a adolescent residential treatment facility. Can you tell me if i can do this with just an Associates in Nursing degree? I have applied at a few hospitals and a really good residential treatment facility for girls with eating disorders etc., and every place has called back! I just applied for nursing aide (just to get my foot in the door), however because i am not licensed they couln't hire me. I would like to first get my CNA, hopefully work at the above mentioned places then go on for my LPN and lastly my RN. I would also be intersed in substance abuse nurse. I know alot of places by my house hire LPN's to dispense meds, intake patients etc., which i would love. Can you give me some info? Thanks so much

[elkpark]

While there may be some individual facilities out there that choose to only hire BSN-prepared RNs, there's no specialregulatory/legal requirement about degrees -- as long as you're licensed, in most places, that's all they're looking for. I started out in psych nursing as a diploma grad, and have worked with many ASN-prepared nurses over the years.

Every psych facility I've worked in over the years has also used LPNs (although, again, that doesn't guarantee that every facility hires LPNs).

[yuyu75]

AAHHH....thanks so much! I am so happy to hear that~!