English psychiatric nurse looking to work in Atascadero Hospital

[bruce bryan]

Hi there,

I am a registered psychiatric nurse working in one of Englands' three maximum secure hospitals. I am wishing to emmigrate to california, hopefully to work in Atascadero secure facility. If anyone out there has any valuable info as to how i can achieve this goal i would love to hear from you. I understand that California is now willing to recognise the English RMN (Psychiatric) qualification due to such staffing shortages. Can anyone confirm this? I would welcome any info regarding the hospital from Atascadero staff also.

Thanks for your time.

Bruce. :rotfl:

[Blackcat99]

:) I went on a tour of Atascadero State Hospital many many years ago. It looked like it would be a very interesting place to work. It's like they have their own little city. I filled out a bunch of paperwork and waited and waited. After waiting 3-4 months to hear from them I gave up moved and accepted another job. One week after moving and taking a new job Atascadero called and wanted me to come for an interview. I said No. Anyway, I wish you luck.

[Aurora]

Are you nuts? Atascadero is ghastly! Not that I have ever been there, but I have worked in two California prisons and heard very scary stories. Worked with one psych tech who had been at Atascadero for years -- her fiance was severely injured by a patient/inmate. She had transferred to our prison because she was just not willing to deal with the lax security and physical risk. So -- it depends on you and what you find . . .fulfilling . . .and acceptable.

[Blackcat99]

Are you nuts? Atascadero is ghastly! Not that I have ever been there, but I have worked in two California prisons and heard very scary stories. Worked with one psych tech who had been at Atascadero for years -- her fiance was severely injured by a patient/inmate. She had transferred to our prison because she was just not willing to deal with the lax security and physical risk. So -- it depends on you and what you find . . .fulfilling . . .and acceptable.

:chuckle Yes I am nuts. I applied at Atascadero many many years ago when I was a psych tech. I was much younger and stronger at that time. Now that I'm older and wiser I wouldn't work as a psych tech at Atascadero. I agree with you. When I took my tour there were alarms going off all the time(psychiatric emergencies.) :uhoh21: