Working at State Psych Hospital

Mary Dover · Oct 1, 2002

Specifically, what is it that you're nervous about?

If it's the fact that it's a state hospital, I can relate. In NC, state psych facilities are not fairing so well right now. But I don't know the situation in Virginia.

As far as psych nursing though, I'd have to say GO FOR IT.

At heart, I'm still a psych nurse. Did it for 12 years, inpatient and outpatient (but not in a state facility). For the past several months I've worked for a private managed care company and it's a different world. Sadly for me, I don't even get to handle the psych stuff. The stress level is much better, but the 'warm fuzzies' are missing. You know - the things that can sometimes make us feel that we're in the right place.

margnurse · Oct 1, 2002

I guess I have avoided psych nursing because I thought my memories of my sister's illness would impede my effectiveness in helping others with similar conditions. I believe now that this "history" provides me with a perspective that can help families and patients. Not to mention that I always did well in psych in nursing school and not as well in med-surg. It just so happens I ended up working in med-surg due to job availability but never felt it was my niche. I even thought about leaving nursing due to my dissatisfaction. Maybe I also feel nervous about this is because of others opinion of this specialty. I know I shouldn't let it affect me if that is what I want to do but sometimes doubts will creep in and question my decision/goals.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Oct 1, 2002

State Hospitals NEED good, caring nurses !!! If this is where your heart is, follow it. :)

Mary Dover · Oct 2, 2002

margnurse, I can relate to everything you last said, but also to jnette that you should follow your heart.

Someone (a medical nurse) once said to me that she thought psych nurses "march to the beat of a different drummer", but I took that to mean in a good way.

sjoe · Oct 5, 2002

margnurse--see if they'll let you shadow or hang out for at least a few hours to see if it "feels" right to you. I can't tell, myself, whether I like something until I've actually been there. Some state hospitals are ok, others are horror shows, believe me, so see how the ward you would be working on feels to you.

margnurse · Oct 16, 2002

Well, I had the interview and I feel it went really well. I never had a state interview and had panel of 2 ask formal state questions and then less formal questions. They felt I would be best suited for acute admissions unit. I hope I get the job. I guess the only concern is the budget cuts for the state but the governor states direct patient care jobs won't be affected. Some of the benefits seem really good--esp the educational leave. I may even consider going back to school to get my MSN. I won't know for a couple weeks whether I got it or not. Thanks for everybody's advice.

Heidi · Oct 27, 2002

Hope you get the job. Let us know and let us know what it is like

margnurse · Oct 27, 2002

Well, I found out last week that I got the job and will start in December. I am really looking forward to it.

Psychnurse2000 · Nov 4, 2002

Congratulations on getting the job! I work on a behavioral unit at a state psychiatric hospital for forensic patients and I dearly love it. I wouldn't do any anything else. I hope you love your new job just as much.

psycorn · Nov 5, 2002

i have worked in psy for number of years and work in a private hospital in virginia and i work with a lot of RN who work in a state facilitiy and they say its pretty much the same clients and the same staffing issurees and there are very little horrid stories, i usually feal safer at work then going to the grocery store cause i no what i am dealing with at work and you just don['t no who is in line with you, so if your hesitation is because it is state insutation, don't worry they usually pay the best and staff pretty good the only bad thing i no is mandatory hold overs due to shortage of nurses so good luck to yah

margnurse · Nov 7, 2002

Psycorn,

Where in Virginia do you work? I am finishing a travel assignment in Maryland and can't wait to go back to Virgnia next week.