DILEMMA: Just got hired as a psych nurse BUT want to apply to new grad programs

[RoyalNurseBSN]

Hello all nurses!

It's my first time posting on here but I have been an avid reader of all nurses all through out nursing school

I need your expert advice:

I am a new grad RN and I have been working as a Mental Health Tech at a behavioral health facility for about a year now and I just got hired as a psych nurse and I am still orienting and I could already tell that it is going to be a bad fit for me. I am miserable. I really do not see myself working here as a nurse for any more than 6 months or the most 1 year. I started orienting 2 weeks ago.

Here is the dilemma...I am currently applying to new grad programs, so my question is: DO I ADD MY PSYCH NURSE EXPERIENCE OF 2 WEEKS on my resume? Is it too soon? If I add it..does it make me look like a job hopper? If I leave it out..what are the possible consequences? Do I leave out this employer completely (remember I have been working as Mental health tech here for a year then as a nurse for 2 weeks)

Will the background checks that are conducted on new grad applicants say that I left out my psych experience of 2 weeks?

I am stuck and don't know what to do I want acute care and I met so many unhappy nurses at my work place saying that I will get stuck there if I don't leave NOW. I am so afraid. I have a lot of respect for psych nurses but I just know in my heart that psych nursing is not what I want to do because AT MY WORK there is minimal use of clinical skills, all I do is chart, I feel like a secretary!

I am so determined to NOT get stuck in psych that I have seriously considered applying OUT OF STATE. Luckily, new grad programs are willing to accept nurses who have less than 6 months experience. My question goes back to whether I should put my 2 week experience of orienting in psych nursing on my resume or not.

YOUR HELP IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED! THANK YOU ALL NURSES!

[ajt575s]

Just to reassure you: I work in psych also. I don't think you'll necessarily get "stuck" in psych, though it may depend on your location. I have seen several psych nurses at my facility leave for medical jobs without prior medical experience, one or two in particular at 6 months after graduation. Psych does give you some skills that are marketable in other areas, especially communication/de-escalation skills. I do acute psych, so I do get to do blood draws, wound care, etc. You get really good at IM/SubQ injections and administering lots of different types of medications because you have to do big med passes. Psych pts have medical problems, too, so you will run into medical crises from time to time. Also, psych gives you the opportunity to charge earlier than medical jobs, so you have leadership experience that will transfer well to another position.

I'm not sure that it would look bad to other employers if you were planning on staying in your psych job as a prn or something like that. You may not burn a bridge that way. Several nurses at my facility work prn somewhere else as well, often to keep up their medical skills. Instead of giving a reason for leaving on your application, you can put "presently employed."

Hopefully, that helps!

[RoyalNurseBSN]

thank you for your reply! my work is a private behavioral hospital. i am in california. where do you work? i am interested in acute psych, at least that gives you a chance to use your skills. maybe i can just stay here for 1 year then transfer to acute psych? any idea where to look in california? thanks!! :)

[racs09_RN]

hi! i would like to ask how is the hiring process for private psych hospitals? i had an interview 2 weeks ago and was told i would receive a call after background check.. but still no call yet? how long does it take to get a call back?