Curious to know your thoughts...psych home health care?

[slove2718]

I have recently come across a new graduate program that I am interested in applying to. The company is a home health care company, specializing in mental illness (stable individuals living with depression, ptsd, schizophrenia, etc.). I am super pumped for this program for several reasons, but at the same time, torn between potentially losing out on some foundational skills and more general experience. I always said that long-term I did not want to be hospital-based, and that a setting such as home care would better suit my personality, and I've always wanted to work psych. I do have some experience working as a tech now, and truthfully, the hospital scene isn't entirely something I'm feeling super confident or thrilled about. I'm curious to know other's thoughts. Has anyone entered straight into homecare and either loved/hated the experience? Has anyone struggled with feeling the pressure to assume a hospital-based position to start, even when they weren't thrilled about it? Also, just for reference as I know a lot of home health care gets knocked due to poor support/experience, this opportunity is a 12-month new grad residency program, working 1-1 with a mentor throughout your training period. 

Thanks! ? 

[TheMoonisMyLantern, ADN, LPN, RN]

I started in acute care and I do think it provides a good foundation from which to build from. That said, more and more care is being provided outside the hospital and MANY nurses start as a new grad in a more specialized area of nursing than med-surg and have excellent careers so I don't think acute care is required to be a "real nurse". 

Having worked psych, I can tell you that we desperately need people who want to be there working with the patients. After 5 years, I burned out hard, but I loved psych nursing. I think your program sounds really cool and if you have an interest in psych I say go for it!

[slove2718]

Thanks for the reply @TheMoonisMyLantern ? I'm curious to know, did you work psych home care, or inpatient? I'd be interested in both, but it just so happens that I came across the new grad program and I feel as though it would be a better fit. 

[Stephanie Boehler]

I work for psych home care agency and did their new grad program and it was a great experience. 

 

You will learn a ton about psych meds and illnesses and how to triage your clients you see by priority and know when they decompensate and how to avoid that. It's a lot of case management but you will gain so much knowledge 

 

If its out of Massachusetts than it might even be the company im employed with and cant say enough great things. Lot of support and education. 

[slove2718]

Hi @Stephanie Boehler I am based in MA! Would it be okay if I PM you? I would love to touch base some more and see if you could answer a few questions I have. Thanks!