How long before you were able to get a position as a psychiatric nurse?

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 30, 2013

I went straight into psych. Time from application to job offer was about 6 weeks. I'll admit it wasn't my first choice at the time...but then I fell in love with it and haven't regretted it.

Keep in mind that psych works a little differently: whereas other specialities will often make a job offer first and then wait on the results of the background check, drug test, references, etc...in psych, you usually have to clear all these wickets first, before they'll even issue an offer.

Definitely stay on top of your application (and send a thank-you note if you haven't yet) but don't give up hope yet :)

LisaNICUrn, BSN · Feb 2, 2013

Well I'm sure it different for different hospitals and how soon after the position is posted that you see it and interview before they make a decision. I start my first nursing job, in psych on Tues. I graduated in Aug and passed my boards on Nov 18th. I did apply for a few jobs right away but my father was really sick beginning in Nov. until he passed away Dec 13th, and then I was mourning him so I wasn't really looking for a job full time until about the beginning of Jan, maybe a little after that. I did have 3 interviews, all at the psych hospital actually, one on Dec 6th, Dec 19, and Jan 17th or 18th. I got a call Jan 25th that I got the position. I think it generally takes about a month, and it was pretty true for me too. Every person I have talked to said it took about a month. If they didn't already have a job lined up after boards, it's about a month.

Clark_Kent · Feb 2, 2013

I passed my boards in mid January and have been applying for all types of positions -- one of which was in a psych hospital. I heard back from them a day later and interviewed the following day. I got job offer at the end of the interview! It still has to go through the official channels through HR, but it looks like a go. It happened so fast, I'm still trying to get my head around it. I had thought to get a med/surge job as a first position out of school, but jobs are hard to come by, and psych is one of my interests. So I'm gonna go for it. Since the position is 32 hours, I may try to look for a per diem gig someplace where I can take a few shifts a month and practice my clinical skills.

serenitylove14 · Feb 3, 2013

Im a new grad, May 2012, took a 6 month break and started looking for a job about 2 months ago. I got offered a position with a state psychiatric facility. That was the first place to offer me an interview and they pay the most out of everyone.

Clark_Kent · Feb 5, 2013

Im a new grad May 2012, took a 6 month break and started looking for a job about 2 months ago. I got offered a position with a state psychiatric facility. That was the first place to offer me an interview and they pay the most out of everyone.[/quote']
Did you take it? What State are you in?

serenitylove14 · Feb 5, 2013

Did you take it? What State are you in?

Yes I took it. I am in Tennessee. They pay better than all of our local hospitals.

Clark_Kent · Feb 7, 2013

Yes I took it. I am in Tennessee. They pay better than all of our local hospitals.

Did you feel any pressure to get some med/surg experience as a first nursing job? I kind of feel that with the tough job market, we may not get to be too choosy. Psych is one of my interests, I think I'm just going to go for it.

serenitylove14 · Feb 7, 2013

Did you feel any pressure to get some med/surg experience as a first nursing job? I kind of feel that with the tough job market, we may not get to be too choosy. Psych is one of my interests, I think I'm just going to go for it.

No not really. At this point if you can get a job anywhere it will be a miracle lol. But no I had an interview the other day at a rehab facility and that would be when I would need med-surg first! They dont do anything but PO meds... smh... but it would be pretty easy job just not good for learning new things!

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 7, 2013

Did you feel any pressure to get some med/surg experience as a first nursing job? I kind of feel that with the tough job market, we may not get to be too choosy. Psych is one of my interests, I think I'm just going to go for it.

Some pressure but not as much as you'd think.

I agree with you: in this job market, a new grad can't be very choosy or they'll be an unemployed old grad before long. Also, if your interest is in psych--or you feel no affinity for med/surg--then why waste time when you can go straight where you want to be?

You do have to stay on top of your medical knowledge in psych. But you can do that without having to serve time in med/surg first. Granted, in psych you're not inserting tubes and suctioning trachs, but you still have to stay on top of patients' medical conditions, not all of which are stable. People--including some psych nurses--tend to forget that psych patients don't leave their medical issues at the door when they check in :)

Neverminding that there's a few psychiatric illnesses whose effects are heavily medical: eating disorders is a great example. Or medications that can play serious havoc medically: clozapine, anyone?

Clark_Kent · Feb 10, 2013

I accepted the position -- very excited. : )

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 11, 2013

Congratulations and welcome to the dark side :)