new grad job choice

longer · Mar 13, 2001

I just read your entry and i wanted to reply. I graduated as an RN in 1996 and did my consolidation period in pediatrics and in the operating room. I loved both these areas, and was lucky to find employment in peds. After 1 1/2 years I changed my job to one in a psychiatric insitution. i was a bit nervous at first due to all I heard about "loosing skills" and having trouble getting back to "acute" medical nursing if I wanted to down the road. I feel that if you keep up on your reading, and keep yourself informed it is easy to make the switch back. I have a couple friends that have quit (psych) and went back to the General hospital here after many years of psychiatric nursing. I do not regret leaving medical nursing, as i find psychiatric nursing very challenging and rewarding. After a couple years working with the mentally ill, i don't ever have any intentions of working in a "medical nursing" setting. The only way you will know for yourself is to give it a try. If that's what you think you might like to do, give it a try while your still fresh out of school... who know's you may really love it!!!!!

good luck,

Jason

Originally posted by GLW:
I just graduated in mid December from an ADN program. I already have gotten 2 job offers. The choice is between a telemtry unit position and a Psych unit position. I also have a bachelor's dgree in psych and have worked many years in the field which is why I applied for a psych position. I am very interested in psych. I also am interested in telemetry. I really enjoyed my telemetry rotation in school. I have been told that new grads should go for the medical floors before specializing in an area like psych. My concern is for my furture. If I begin in a psych position will it hurt my chances to tranfer to a medical floor in the future if I choose to change fields? If anyone has any advice on this subjuect I would really appreciate it. Thanks

Lynn Casey RN · Mar 13, 2001

Hi!My best friend graduated in 1996.She did a year on a medical floor,2 years in ccu,and is now in neonatal icu.She always had a passion to be a psych nurse but just wanted to see if there was something else.Now she is actively applying for psych positions,pleased with the fact she's not having any doubts now.She doesn't regret her decision to test the waters first,then pursue her original passion.Follow your heart.The best thing about nursing as a career is the diversity it offers.You have the diploma,and there is no "type-casting".Good Luck and have fun!

ck · Mar 18, 2001

Once you've been in psych, I can't imagine anyone wanting to go back to medical nursing. We get enough medical stuff in our hospital based unit to "fill the need to feel like a 'real nurse'" . With the shortage of nurses causing so much stress and short staffing in hospitals, why would anyone want to leave a specialty that is usually well staffed, to work in an area that is chronically understaffed?