A whole bunch of high school oblivious nursing questions...

[lexiic]

Hello everybody!

This is my first post here on allnurses, and to be honest I feel as though my questions have been answered thousands of times on here already but my abilities to interpret aren't that great unless they are answered when I ask them... If that makes sense.

Anywho!

I'm going in to my grade 12 year and am considering doing nursing.

SIAST (a Canadian college thingermabobber) has a 3 year program for psych nursing.

However. I am afraid that my visions of nursing are "save the world"! But I know I have seen many posts where that vision falters quite quickly once you're actually working as a nurse.

Anyways, I find myself very compassionate, understanding, empathetic, a good listener, I've always been interested in psychiatry and I love children.

Can someone slightly give me a glimpse into psych nursing? >_

I know it is a rewarding job, and I know that there's gonna be disappointment.

I guess what I mean to say is:

- Is SIAST okay?

- A day in the life of a psych nurse?

- HOW DO I GET PRE REQS? >_

- How long do they take to complete?

.. I kind of beat around the bush but I'm slightly nervous.

Teehee.

- Lexii!

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

I would start by looking at the school website. They should have info on the classes you'll need and what you have to do to apply. Good luck!

[OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN]

I am also interested in psych but have not gotten to that semester of clinicals yet but I would suggest looking at the posts on the psych nursing section on here under specialty. This may give you more insight on what it will be like. Good Luck!!!!!

[ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN]

i dont know exactly how canada works, but do you have to get a degree in one specialty of nursing? you say you are interested in psych, but it would be beneficial to just get a general nursing degree and not pigeonhole yourself into one specialty. im not saying you wont become a psych nurse and absolutely love it, but what if you dont? one of the great things about nursing is the variety of choices you have. you may experience another area of nursing in clinical and realize thats what you want to do.

i dont know much about this because in the us, there are only RN and LPN programs, and then you can enter whatever field you wish (if there are jobs available). you can eventually get additional certifications in specialties, but i would not get a whole degree in only one type of nursing personally. but, if your heart is really in psych, i say go for it. im assuming they would be more willing to hire a psych-only prepared nurse for a psych position over a general-educated nurse, but again i have no idea how canada works... maybe post in the Psych specialty forum, or canadian nursing forum.

good luck whatever you choose!