Finally out of med-surg and into psych

[stepaukob]

Finally, I did my year plus of med-surg (would have done less if an opening presented itself) and started my new position at a standalone psych hospital. I currently work 16 hrs adult and 16 hours child/adolescent. The facility also has a detox unit, methadone unit, and a geri unit.

So far I am enjoying it. I'm hoping to get as much experience at this facility in order to possibly travel someday. So far the med-surg helps a little but not enough to warrant doing it again.

Thanks to all who here who share their experiences as I will hope to do the same.

[smc9]

Congratulations on your move to psych. I am looking forward to that day myself. I have been on the floor on neuro unit since 10/15/07. I thought it was a good thing to have the med/surg background before going into psych, but from what you're saying it's not necessary? Do I have that right?

One more question, do you work 12's or 8's. I've noticed here in California, for the most part, the shifts are only 8 hours in either the hospital I currently work at or standalone facilities (except state which seem to give you the choice or 8's or 10's). This is disappointing because I went into nursing to be a psych nurse, but I don't want to do 5-8's anymore as I have been in the working world since about 1977.

[gitanagirl]

I hope it goes well for you! I also am very interested in going into psych. I have over a year of hospital experience (although it is pediatric critical care).

Like SMC9, I am based in California. How do you get started in psych? I too, would love to do 12's or 16's. Please keep us updated on how you like it!

[smc9]

Hi Gitanagirl,

Please keep me updated if you find a place that does 12 hr shifts. I'd be interested to know as I am currently working on my BSN and need to keep to a 3-day work week.

As far as me personally getting started in psych; I contacted the unit director for the psych department in my hospital (it's actually a separate hospital for psych only, but attached to the main hospital if that makes sense) and told her that my 6 month probationary period ends in April. She said to fill out a transfer sheet and contact her in April for an interview. It was as simple as that. Hopefully I will get hired. If not I plan to interview in other standalone psych hospitals or psych departments of other hospitals.

Let me know how it goes for you.

[stepaukob]

It's funny, prior to my year every person I interviewed with said that they wanted med-surg experience and now that I'm hired everyone is saying that I didn't need it.

As far as I'm concerned, I can see where it has/will help but a lot of it doesn't really transfer either. For the most part I'm glad I did it and even more glad that's it's over with .