Detox RN going for PMHNP

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I've just started school to get my psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner degree, because I love psych. I'm not sure I have enough experience, however. I currently work on a detox unit in a psychiatric hospital. I may want to do something related to medication assisted addiction management.

I'd say only about 25% of them have serious psychiatric disorders requiring medication. It is sad that so many people with psychiatric disorders end up with addiction problems, and I've definitely learned a lot about the detox process.

I worked with psychiatric patients in a long term setting before (The unit was legally akin to a nursing home, but mostly for patients with traumatic brain injury and psychiatric disorders where they could not take care of themselves.) I was just there for a year. I don't know if I have enough real psych experience.

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Welcome to allnurses.

Plenty of people with no psych experience whatsoever are going into PMHNP programs. I'm not saying I approve of that, but, clearly, TPTB in nursing have decided that no psych experience is necessary.

I was going to ask if you had thought about getting a job in an acute psychiatric setting for a while to see how you like it before committing to a graduate program, but I reread your post and see that you're already in school. What kind of responses are you looking for with your post? You've already made the choice and started school, but you're concerned that you don't have enough experience? Are you just looking for reassurance that that doesn't matter and you'll be fine?

Best wishes for your journey.

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I've been working in a detox for a year, and I did the long term facility for a year. Just wondering if detox is good psych experience, and I'm thinking about working with addiction.

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I wasn't asking for reassurance....I can still get experience before starting practice as an NP

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You could get a PRN job in an acute psychiatric setting. You'll learn a lot more about the medications and variety of disorders. Plus, there are many, many patients in acute psych with substance abuse issues, and your previous experience with detox and addictions would be beneficial. Good luck with school!

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Specializes in Substance Abuse, Mental Health.

I am in a similar situation. I've worked around methadone & subutex/suboxone for over 3 years but I'll be starting a PMHNP program in fall. Thankfully the program I'll be starting counted my substance abuse as experience for the 6 month psych requirement (it's certainly related). Although I'm confident in my ability to do well, I know I need to become more familiar with psych meds so I landed a PRN job last month at a behavioral health hospital. The unit where I'll be most of the time is for dual diagnosis & detox. I only have to work 24 hours per month to remain on PRN status so I definitely plan on keeping the job throughout NP school.

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Yeah, I'm trying to get a PRN job like that, too. I tried to get a job in a psych hospital forever before I got the detox job. Basically, getting the detox job was going to be my way to get a psych hospital job. Turns out, detox jobs are sort of easy to get where I live, but not so much acute psych. I decided that I would get my NP degree, and keep trying for an acute psych job (I have no doubts that this is the field that I want). I figured I could still work as an RN even after graduating, and possibly get an addiction related NP job, that way I wouldn't be overstepping my experience level.

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