Did anyone start out in Psych?

[ANH_RN]

I have been working on a med-surg unit since August this year. I was wanting to just get in a year of med-surg because that is the inevitable advice from everyone. I don't know if it's just the unit I work on or the field itself but my heart is not in it. I kind of wish I would have started out in Psych. Has anyone began their career in Psych and how do you feel about your decision?

[Jules A, MSN]

I did! While I don't discount the value of having a med surge background there is just no way I could have done it. I'm very happy. I love my team and my patients. In my area the demand for nurses is too great not to follow your heart imo. Good luck.

[S.N. Visit, BSN, RN]

I started in psych right out of school, and have no regrets. I don't plan to ever do med-surg. Not my cup of tee.

[evenflow55]

Hey! I too started out in psych and I sound like the above posters. I didn't like med surg either and all the advice I got was do it for a year THEN go onto psych. But I remember thinking "I don't WANT to do med surg at all"...so I went right into psych. I recently left my job after 10 years to become a clinical instructor for two colleges. And yes, for the psych clinical!!!

[lpnflorida]

I started psych straight out of school worked there for 20 years. It has continued to be valuable to me in dealing with all patients. Fortunately I did work for a time Float pool, to get my skills up to snuff after I left pscyh. That also has served me well. Now I am not terribly afraid to work where ever the need is in a hospital.

[LeavingTeaching4RN]

I started psych straight out of school worked there for 20 years. It has continued to be valuable to me in dealing with all patients. Fortunately I did work for a time Float pool, to get my skills up to snuff after I left pscyh. That also has served me well. Now I am not terribly afraid to work where ever the need is in a hospital.

Did you work float in med-surg units? How were you able to work float on med-surg without any med-med surg experience?

I ask because I want to start in psych when I graduate, but I don't want to forget the skills that I'm working so hard to master while in school. So, one of my instructors suggested that I work float or per diem on med-surg units, but I don't see how that's possible without experience.

[lpnflorida]

Leavingteaching,

To answer your questions, as I worked on an acute care psych unit which was hospital based. I was often floated over the years to different units. Which helped me to keep skills I had learned in school and to learn new ones. When I approached the Head of Our Float pool, it was already recognized that I was competent in working on the floors. Hence I worked the float pool where they might need me in the acute care setting of the hospital. That did not mean I went to Emor, worked ICU , I did go to PACU, rather than CCU. I was given stable patients, as they recognized it was not my specialty. Each floor I would go to if I need helped in learning something new or brushing up something I hadn't done in a while , they were helpful.

I now work in an area which is considered specialized Rehab, yet still even though I am not in a float pool, do float to other units on acute care. I always looking at floating elsewhere as a benefit to me. It helps me to keep up rather than perceiving myself as only being able to function in one area only.

It has always done me well to know where to find the policies of our hospital or where to look up technique on something I have not done for awhile.

[LeavingTeaching4RN]

LPN Florida,

Thanks for your reply. Your situation sounds like it would meet my desires perfectly. I'm not sure if the facility where I completed my psych rotation could be considered acute care because the clients there were only afflicted with mental illness. If they had a medical condition, they were sent to a medical floor and returned to the psych unit after being medically cleared.

So, I guess my concern is, if I work in a similar unit, how can I be a benefit in a float or per diem position without an orientation and/or preceptor? Perhaps, I'm trying too hard to have my cake and eat it too.

[lpnflorida]

Unless your psych unit is closed unit, or not connected to an acute care hosptial , it might be problem. However if connected within an acute care hospital you can let your managers know you would also be interested when there is not a need for you on psych to be floated out to the acute care areas that might need help for the day. If you have a registry or float pool contact who is in charge of those nurses. Again letting them you would be interested in either picking up hours or on occasional going if psych does not need you..

[Quilter0225]

Thanks for the info. I just left a very busy high acuity tele floor after 5 months. It was not a good fit for me as a new nurse. I have 8 years of experience as a special education assistant, so I applied for a pediatric psych position. I just had the interview today and have been invited to set up a shadow day to check out the unit. I too am concerned about losing my med surg skills. The unit I interviewed for is in a free standing mental health facility which is part of Children's Hospital. They have 5 units in this facility, and one on the main hospital campus for acute care psych patients. I think I will take your advice and see if I can occaisionally float to the acute care psych unit after I get established in my home unit. Any thoughts on managing stress as a new nurse in psych, anyone?

[PurellGirl]

I am going into my last semester of nursing school and I want to do Psych Nursing. I am also scared.

[Jules A, MSN]

I am going into my last semester of nursing school and I want to do Psych Nursing. I am also scared.

Welcome PurellGirl, what ya scared of?