Is specialized training required?

[Theresa92]

Hello! First of all, I apologize if this sounds like a dumb question. I have done some research and browsed this thread and I still have a question. I would like to work in the psychiatric field one day. I have my bachelor of arts in psychology and a bachelors of science in business management. My initial goal was to work in Social Work, but grad school is out of the question for me at the current moment. I weighed all my options, and decided that CNA training would be the best fit for me right now.

Eventually, I would like to work my way up and work in a psychiatric setting. I have been contemplating working my way up into the psychiatric nursing field, starting as a psychiatric nurse and maybe eventually a psychiatric nurse practitioner. My question is, is specialized training required to work as a nurse in a psychiatric setting? Someone who is currently in nursing school told me that specialized education is not required, but my research says otherwise.

Could anyone please advise me on this? I appreciate your time, patience, and responses! Does one become a "psychiatric nurse" simply by working in that field, or is there specialized education required?

[elkpark]

The answer to your question differs depending on what country you're in. What country are you in?

If you are in the US, the US educates and licenses nurses as generalists. Nursing programs include education in all the main areas of nursing practice, including psychiatric nursing, and there is no additional formal training or licensure necessary to work as a psychiatric nurse. Of course, there are plenty of optional continuing education programs available in psychiatric nursing, and there is voluntary specialty certification available.

I am generally aware that Canada and the UK use a different model of nursing education and licensure, and I believe that people in those countries who want to work in psychiatric nursing complete specialized psychiatric nursing degrees. But I'm certainly no authority on how nursing works in any other country. :)

If you already have a BA in psychology, you could likely find a job as a tech on an inpatient psych unit (even without CNA training). Many psych units hire individuals with BAs in psychology for tech positions.

Best wishes for your journey!

[Theresa92]

Thank you for your response! To answer your question, I am located in the US. If I am understanding your answer correctly, are you saying that specialized training is not required, but is preferred?

[elkpark]

Thank you for your response! To answer your question, I am located in the US. If I am understanding your answer correctly, are you saying that specialized training is not required, but is preferred?

There is no "specialized training" required to get a job in psychiatric nursing in the US. Some psych units are willing to hire nurses with no previous psych experience; some units require previous experience. That is a choice of the individual employer.

All nurses, regardless of specialty, participate in ongoing continuing education (just like psychologists do). Most states require some minimum amount (number of hours) in order to be able to renew your license every two years. Nursing, like every other role in healthcare, is constantly changing and advancing, and it's each individual nurse's responsibility to stay current and competent in the field. Most nurses choose to focus their continuing education on their specific clinical specialty (how much sense would it make for me, as a psychiatric nurse, to go to a workshop on ICU nursing? Or subscribe to a OB nursing journal? :))

There is voluntary national certification available in psych nursing, as well as most other clinical specialties (and even med-surg nursing, which used to not be considered a "specialty'). Some employers require that their nurses get the national certification, some pay you a little more if you do have it (but they don't require it), and some employers couldn't care less. Again, that is the choice of the individual employer. Many of us pursue the national certification because it is concrete "proof" that we are knowledgeable, competent, and experienced in the specialty, and that we are committed to continuing to grow professionally within the specialty. But lot of other nurses don't bother with certification and that doesn't mean they're not equally competent or professional. It's a v. personal choice.

I'm curious, what research did you find that "says otherwise" (that specialized training is required)? Was it referring to nursing practice in the US? Were you maybe looking at the requirements for becoming a psych nurse practitioner, which is a whole different ball game?

[Theresa92]

Thanks again for your response and I apologize for responding so late. To answer your question, there was no specific research that told me that specialized nurse training is required for psychiatric nursing. It just seemed that way when I did my research.

i have a question about continuing education. Do CNAs need CE? Also, how do nurses go about getting CE and where do they record it? (I'm assuming that nurses have to prove they got CE). Thanks again for your help.

[elkpark]

Thanks again for your response and I apologize for responding so late. To answer your question, there was no specific research that told me that specialized nurse training is required for psychiatric nursing. It just seemed that way when I did my research.

i have a question about continuing education. Do CNAs need CE? Also, how do nurses go about getting CE and where do they record it? (I'm assuming that nurses have to prove they got CE). Thanks again for your help.

I know nothing about CNAs and continuing education.

Nurses get continuing education credits in lots of different ways. There are all kinds of conferences and workshops, lots of nursing journals include articles with post-tests you can send in for credits, there are websites that offer articles for continuing education credit. When you complete a continuing education activity (attend a conference or inservice, complete an online or journal article that offers CE credit), you typically get a certificate that says you completed XX activity on XX date, and got XX hours of CE credits. You save all those certificates someplace until you need them. There are some online sites and apps that let you enter your CE hours as you complete them, and keep track of them that way. I haven't lived in a state that does this, but I understand that some state BONs offer an option to notify them (and maintain a record online) of your CE hours as you complete them.

[Davey Do]

If you already have a BA in psychology, you could likely find a job as a tech on an inpatient psych unit (even without CNA training). Many psych units hire individuals with BAs in psychology for tech positions.

Best wishes for your journey!

Amen! And for one, with an educational background, interest, and plans like yours, Theresa92, I want to welcome you with open arms into Psychiatric Nursing!

[greenbeanio]

Do yourself a favor and get this book and read through it cover to cover:

Inpatient Psychiatric Nursing: Clinical Strategies & Practical Interventions: 9780826109712: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com

It is the best "training" you could get in inpatient psych that is in a book.

The rest of the training will be on the job, learning through experience. And the best way to get that right now is to look for a job as a mental health counselor or psych tech (different names, same thing) at your local hospital. Because nursing school takes a lot of time and you could be getting invaluable experience in the meantime.