Breaking into Mental Health

elkpark · Oct 15, 2009

Is it worth an hour drive one-way to get some experience so I can get hired closer to home?

Well, no one can answer that question for you. Is it worth it to you? Sounds like you're really enthusiastic about getting into psych, and have put a lot of thought into this, and are only waffling because of the discouragement you're getting from others.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Oct 16, 2009

You say "the nurses" on the floor where you did your clinical experience say they'd never hire a student, but what does the manager or DON nursing say? I would think you have some experience most students don't have, that would make you a valuable addition to the floor. Go talk to the manager and/or director of nursing and tell them of your interest and see what they say. What's the worst that can happen? What's the best that can happen? The managers I've known hire students because they enjoy grooming them to become nurses who model themselves after the good nurses already at work on their units. Working around a student's schedule, if it doesn't fluctuate, isn't such a big deal. All this assumes you want to work during your last semster of nursing school, which can be difficult.

MassED, BSN, RN · Oct 16, 2009

Hi, I'm going to be a new grad in May. I have a Criminal Justice Degree, Surgical Tech. and LPN degree. I will graduate in May with my RN. I did my clinical rotation for Mental Health this week and I fell in love with it. The nurses on the Mental Health Floor told me I would fit in perfectly due to the fact I flow well with the patients and have great interviewing skills. The problem is they rarely have openings and they are unwilling to hire nursing students as techs. because they don't like to go around their schedules. There are several facilities an hour away and they will hire students as techs. Is it worth an hour drive one-way to get some experience so I can get hired closer to home? Most the nurses I talked to at my local hospital who have previously worked at these facilities said they loved working there and the pay was great, just too long of a drive. My husband and friends say it's a waste of my time and that I should just do OR nursing due to better hours and pay. I hated the way I was treated by surgeons as a Surgical Tech. and don't want to go back. I have really found my calling and I will do anything to get my foot in the door. If anyone has any advice I'm open to suggestions.

sounds like you've answered your own question.

stephva1008 · Oct 18, 2009

As a nursing student, you could be a psych tech for sure, esp if you can get a job when you graduate there. I love new grads because they don't have any bad habits established yet and you can really groom them to be good psych nurses. Ask the unit manager or DON!

pandora44 · Oct 18, 2009

Well, I'd purse working as a tech at the closer hospital as far as you can.

But if that doesn't work out, I wouldn't hesitate to go for the hospital an hour away if you can get hired as a tech in pscyh. I commuted for ten years one hour each way. Really, it's not that bad, and once you get used to it, the time is nice to unwind and listen to music or audio books. Plus you won't be doing it forever.

If you know that mental health is what you want to do, I would whatever it takes to get into the field. I worked a year in med-surg and hated it. I know I would hate it when I took it but didn't know what else to do and I figured they experience would be good. Knowing what I now know, I'd do whatever I could to get into the field I liked.

Good luck.