I graduated in April and wrote my NCLEX in July...I was hoping to have found a job by now but it's been pretty hopeless.
I am looking for a place in mental health, as I want to eventually get into remote nursing and I want to be well rounded for that. Also, my integrated practicum/consolidation experience was in inpatient psychiatry.
That said, does anyone with mental health experience know if it is worth it for me to get into a non-violent crisis intervention class with CPI? They're pretty expensive, $1000+ for a one day seminar, $3500ish for certification to teach. I'm not sure how these work, as the one day seminar doesn't seem to include any kind of certification at the end.
I know this is definitely something that my last placement was looking for, but they are not hiring at the moment. Would it seem silly to see this kind of additional education on a resume with no workplace experience?
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Thats what i have heard, but what im thinking is that maybe it might make me more employable...I know my stuff, but I am having trouble even getting an interview to show that off
The cert won't necessarily make you more employable but if you get the trainer's cert you can moonlight and teach the class.
If you're in great need of work, target organizations with high attrition. These include nursing homes, jails, inner city environs, and here every mental hospital in the region. Such settings often cite a need for experienced applicants, but those applicants won't show so they'll take you.
Finally, national health FQHCs might be a good tool search from.
Networking helps. You might target low cost conferences and continuing education opportunities in your area to focus your training but primarily meet people. For example, there was a cheap (
I agree with everyone else: save your money. If your employer uses CPI, they will pay for you to take it.
Also, not every employer uses it BTW--mine does not. They use another program instead. So you don't want to drop money on a course that may not apply to where you are looking to work.
If you're in great need of work, target organizations with high attrition. These include nursing homes, jails, inner city environs, and here every mental hospital in the region. Such settings often cite a need for experienced applicants, but those applicants won't show so they'll take you.
Yes, definitely apply even if you are not as experienced as they desire. If you sell yourself the right away, you just might be able to get in. Especially since the nursing masses aren't flocking to work psych.
The cert won't necessarily make you more employable but if you get the trainer's cert you can moonlight and teach the class.
Hppy
Every place I've ever worked has used in-house instructors (existing employees who were sent by the organization to complete the trainer training and certification), and, in any case, would never consider hiring an "instructor" who had no psychiatric clinical experience. I would not recommend the OP spend the additional money in order to take the instructor course and certification in hopes of being able to get work as a freelance instructor.
hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I
4 Articles; 5,210 Posts
The cert won't necessarily make you more employable but if you get the trainer's cert you can moonlight and teach the class.
Hppy