LPN wanting to do Mental Health Nursing

[NurseLil-lea]

i am interested in mental health nursing. is there mental health jobs out there for lpn's? if so, do you have to have at least a year experience or will they train you knowing that you have some experience in this area when you went through your psychiatric clinical rotation? i've always enjoyed this area of my clinicals in nursing school. any input will be great. thanks!! :)

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

The availability of mental health jobs is dependent upon where you live and work.

I was hired as an LVN/LPN medication nurse (PRN status) at a small psychiatric hospital when I was a new grad four years ago. I was hired without any prior mental health experience, and they were willing to offer a minimal training period that consisted of following another medication nurse around as she performed her tasks and duties.

[NurseLil-lea]

Thank you "TheCommuter" for the input. I will put in for the psychiatric jobs that I saw open in my area and see what happens. Can you please tell me one more thing though, when it says "psychiatric experience preferred", do that mean that they just prefer it but if you don't have the experience, they are willing to take you in and train you anyways? Just wondering.... Thank you "TheCommuter".

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Can you please tell me one more thing though, when it says "psychiatric experience preferred", do that mean that they just prefer it but if you don't have the experience, they are willing to take you in and train you anyways?

If experience was necessary, the advertisement would have read, "Experience required," "Experience is a must," or "Experience necessary."

If the ad says "Experience preferred," it means what it says: that they prefer a candidate with experience. However, the wording also leaves open the possibility that they are willing to train.

[NurseLil-lea]

Thank you "TheCommuter" I was thinking in those terms but I needed some clarification. Thanks!