Psych Outpatient ...

Specialties Psychiatric

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I have been a Psych Tech for years and have experience on the Cardiac ICU as a CNA. I have my BSN and looking for a Psych job. I am considering Peds Psych but a friend in the field said I should look into Psych O/P.

Is it hard to find an outpatient psych job (Im in St. Louis area)? I have a BS and MA in Psych with Psych Tech experience but don't want to do inpatient.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I'm not in St. Louis so I can't tell you how hard it is there...but it was fairly easy for me to get a outpatient psych job where I live. I got it a lot faster than I did the inpatient job :)

However, most outpatient jobs will require prior experience--my employer wants 2+ years of inpatient experience for any outpatient job--and may not be keen on hiring a new grad. Even though it's outpatient, you still need a strong knowledge of psychiatric conditions, medications and treatments, as well as great therapeutic communications skills. Also, you will be working more independently than you would on an inpatient unit: a lot of outpatient programs will only have a few nurses for the whole program, and for smaller programs, it may just be you. So you will also have a steep learning curve.

The fact that you have tech experience is good and may help you overcome the lack of RN experience. And you have nothing to lose by applying.

Good luck!

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I feel like my years as an inpatient psych tech should help. I also have the social work/counseling experience so we'll see.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

That would...it definitely makes you a stronger candidate than the average new grad :) Definitely play those skills up.

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I will try to.

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