Child psych

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

Hi,

I have an interview next week working child/adolescent psych. Any tips suggestions what I could brush up on?

I love psych, I previously worked with adults.

Does anyone know can you still get a MSN or has it all became DNP?

Thanks:)

recently looked at Rush University - they told me almost all the programs are going to DNP but you can still find a few. My concern would be your competitive edge in the market when you have a MSN and everyone else is getting a DNP. I am going to do the DNP although I too would have been very content with a MSN :(.

I work Child/Adolescent and I'd honestly be surprised if they ask you any serious questions on the interview. For our hospital it's been hard to find experienced psych nurses so we've been getting a lot of new grads.

Here are some of the issues I face daily with my patients -

ADHD

Bullying

Cutting

PTSD

Borderline Personality Disorder

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Eating Disorders

Sexual Orientation (goes along with bullying and cutting unfortunately)

Substance abuse (Alcohol, Marijuana and Spice are the biggest concern)

Autism Spectrum (including Aspergers)

Medications - obviously there's a ton to know about them but that comes with time. (Vyvanse, Abilify, Invega, Saphris, Tenex, Risperdal, Seroquel, Zyprexa seem to be in fashion lately along with antidepressants)

Good luck with your interview.

I work Child/Adolescent and I'd honestly be surprised if they ask you any serious questions on the interview. For our hospital it's been hard to find experienced psych nurses so we've been getting a lot of new grads.

Here are some of the issues I face daily with my patients -

ADHD

Bullying

Cutting

PTSD

Borderline Personality Disorder

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Eating Disorders

Sexual Orientation (goes along with bullying and cutting unfortunately)

Substance abuse (Alcohol, Marijuana and Spice are the biggest concern)

Autism Spectrum (including Aspergers)

Medications - obviously there's a ton to know about them but that comes with time. (Vyvanse, Abilify, Invega, Saphris, Tenex, Risperdal, Seroquel, Zyprexa seem to be in fashion lately along with antidepressants)

Good luck with your interview.

Thank you!! Have you always worked children psych,??

I broke the fear and worked a pediatric psych unit for the first time last night. (I have worked adult psych inpatient for three and a half years now and love it) I amazingly found I loved working with the "kids". I was always scared by the challenges that were faced by many of the nurses who worked pediatric psych. Honestly with a lot of patience and a strong spirit it can be done. Just this morning I pretty much saw everything on the list above within the patient population that was there. As long as you are honest, respectful and treat others fairly there is hope. :)

Good luck on the interview.

Specializes in Psych.

My hospital takes care of all ages. We have separate hallways for the adults, the adolescents, and the children. There is a unit nurse for adults and a unit nurse for C&A. That said my background is with adults. I have almost exclusively been working C&A as of late. I love it. I can say though that usually its the c&a patients that are usually taking up the quiet rooms, and the kids are the most likely to hit you. It def would behoove one to familiarize yourself with ADHD and the meds: your stims and Intuniv/Tenex/Kapvay or plain ole clonidine (you will be shocked by all the myriad of preperations methylphenidate comes in these days LOL). Our kids also deal with ODD, OCD, anxiety disorders, depression, ASDs, cutting (HUGE among adolescent girls), eating disorders, bipolar etc. Trauma is a HUGE deal. Trauma, trauma, trauma. And be prepared to deal with a lot of parents who probably need hospitalized more than their kid. Another antipsychotic I am seeing prescribed very often is Geodon. And Atarax for the anxious kids. Seen a few on benzos, but that really floors me. An 8 y/o on klonopin? Really?

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