Advice requested

[Clara Martin]

Hi all,

I’m getting ready to start nursing school (and, for what it’s worth, have very well-managed paranoid schizophrenia). I’d love to work as a psych nurse after I graduate. I volunteer on a crisis hotline and with a disaster response team. What else can I do to prepare myself for this type of work?

[stacyayako, ADN, RN]

It sounds like you have some great experience for this kind of work! Nursing school is hard — my best advice is to learn some fantastic coping skills and take care of yourself when you’re stressed, especially with your schizophrenia. Good luck ?

[umbdude, MSN, APRN]

On 4/23/2019 at 7:33 AM, Clara Martin said:

Hi all,

I’m getting ready to start nursing school (and, for what it’s worth, have very well-managed paranoid schizophrenia). I’d love to work as a psych nurse after I graduate. I volunteer on a crisis hotline and with a disaster response team. What else can I do to prepare myself for this type of work?

Consider picking up a psych tech (aka mental health worker) job while you're in nursing school. Also, if your school has a final semester capstone/preceptorship, ask to be assigned to a psych unit.

I began working as a psych tech right before starting nursing school and kept the job throughout school. I also spent my entire final semester in psych. Transitioning to the psych RN role was easier because of that.