Am I able to change from Psychiatry to ICU

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I really want to become a CRNA in the future, but I was offered my first nursing job at a Psychiatric/Drug Rehab facility (which I believe is really needed in our society). 

If I accept this postion will I have difficulties eventually transferring into a critical care postion? I really do not want to stick myself in the catergory as being a psych nurse and have difficulties getting into criticle care.

Does any one have any stories of changing from psych to a critical care unit?

I really appreciat any advice.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

I'm a psych nurse and I would need a really good orientation to adjust to ICU.

My assessment skills are excellent from working in the community with people who don't communicate well. And I am able to work independently, also from working in the community. Those are the two things I would have going for me in transferring to ICU if I wanted to, which I don't. 

I feel like psych mostly develops the skills you don't use as a CRNA. Like interviewing.

But if there is a detox, that may be helpful to you. If people don't detox there, I think it just won't match well with what you're after. 

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This makes a lot of sense. Thank you

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I worked in a psychiatric hospital for 3 1/2 years. It was an interesting experience (and sometimes dangerous) but I finally had enough of the mismanagement and "dumping" of unruly patients. But I didn't switch to ICU. Just something where I wouldn't get punched or physically attacked. 

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16 minutes ago, Floor_Nurse said:

I worked in a psychiatric hospital for 3 1/2 years. It was an interesting experience (and sometimes dangerous) but I finally had enough of the mismanagement and "dumping" of unruly patients. But I didn't switch to ICU. Just something where I wouldn't get punched or physically attacked. 

What did you end up switching to? Also did your psych hospital deal with any sort of med-surge?

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Sorry for the late response... I went to a large facility that's kind-of like a nursing home, except they don't have frequent admissions. 

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