Please help!

Nurses Career Support

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Hello,

my name is Kyle and I have been going to school since I was 20 years old and feel like I'm honestly getting no where. I currently have my MA cert and CNA cert, but have done absolutely nothing with them. I work full time and I am going to school to become a psych tech because I grew up with my brother who has abbusive anger and loves to scream and yell at our mom for absolutely no reason.

I currently work full time as a Machine Manager for a steel company bringing home only 13 an hr. Defiantly not something to live on lol. I have been working here for 5 years but it's not what I want to be doing for the rest of my life.

I love psychology and taking care of people, and I'm just wondering what the job outlook of psych techs are? I want to work at Patton state hospital when I graduate the psych tech program and then do the LPT to RN transition program. Do you guys think this is a good route to go? And do you think I can even become a psych tech weighing in at 122lbs 5'7?

Thank you in advance for the help :)

Kyle

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

Sounds good! I have worked in psych for 30 years and it has always been interesting for me. It is great that they have training programs for psych tech because there is a lot to learn. I hope it is not expensive. Is LPT licensed psych tech? Then yes it is a good way to go. Get some experience as a tech and then decide if you want to make a commitment to become an RN. Regarding your size, it shouldn't matter. You will learn deescalation skills and how to work with a team to manage violence. Best wishes!

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Thank you so much for the advice! :)

I live in California so the pay for Psych Techs is pretty decent, and I love working with people.

I am going to go ahead and do the LPT program my college offers in hopes of landing a state job, and from there I will see if I like it enough to continue to do my RN. As for having a high metabolism I will try and eat more and will start to work out and try to gain as much muscle mass as I can lol :)

Thank you agin!

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Working in psych isn't about size, it's about your skills and attitude. Some of the most effective people I have known, and the people I would most want to have beside me in a "crisis" situation, have been tiny. Best wishes for your journey!

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Working in psych isn't about size, it's about your skills and attitude. Some of the most effective people I have known, and the people I would most want to have beside me in a "crisis" situation, have been tiny. Best wishes for your journey!

That is amazing! I hope I do well in the program :) Thank you guys so much for the insight!

Much appreciated!

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Hey OP if you're still here. What psych tech program did you end up at?

Can anyone chime in on what it's really like working in psych. .. I was reading some articles and got a bit nervous and discouraged. .

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Hey!

well I will be doing the psych tech program at

San Bernardino Valley college next semester, I fell behind because I had a death in the family I had to attend too. But I'm set to graduate next year with my AA in psych along with a major in psychiatric technology. My uncle worked at Patton state hospital for 25 years and retired so he has told me a lot about what he did. Yeah there will be take downs and such but it's all about the learning experience. I don't tend to make being a psych tech worth while but I do want to try it.

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wow! ! that's where i was planning on going. I found that the AP class I took doesn't satisfy there prerequisites. So, I'm trying to find a different program that does. Did your uncle enjoy Patton? I'd like to work at Patton and transition to psych rn ...CONGRATS on your AA'S!!!!!! good for you! !!!

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also i wanted to ask if you know anything about sbvc psych tech possibly transitioning into lvn? Thanks again!

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No but they actually have a PT to RN transition program :) google

it! :))

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REALLY! ? Awesome I'm going to Google that right away! you Rock!

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aww darn i just checked on google all i could find were lvn to rn programs at sbvc...if you have any info after you make 15 posts you can private message me. Hopefully, you found some info that I'm not able to locate. ..I wonder how long it would take to transition

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