Getting a job as a new psych RN? Pay?

[PSYCHEE]

Hello! I'm not quite graduated yet but I'm well on my way through my prereq's to an RN program. I've been hearing a lot of discouraging things on this forum lately about new grads, but I was wondering if it was any different in psych.

How hard is it to get a job as a new RN in psych? Is it as bad as people make it out to be?

What's the pay for an RN [new or otherwise] in psych? I live in Florida, so I know it's bound to be a little less due to the cost of living being less..

Thanks to anyone for your help/advice. :)

[Lillylyle]

It depends on the hospital. I think Atlanta state hosp. starts their brand new grads at 25 (for BSN in 2006 anyway) but the more rural state hospitals are more like 18-19ish (current). Benefits are the same no matter what hospital, I think it's 5 hours per pay period (every 15th and last day of month) of vacation and 5 hours sick time. Plus 10 holidays per year. The holidays are NOT double-time. If you work on a holiday, you get paid straight time and get a paid day off later (also straight time).

The shift diff is a % of your base, I think it's 13% for 2nd or 3rd shift and another 5% for weekends. And they require 40 hour workweeks, if you have benefits. I think, if the hospital even accepts PRN/part-time workers, it's like 25-28$ FLAT rate depending on the hospital. No benefits though.

Some of the hospitals have a special weekend program where you work 12's but there's no benefits and I'm not sure what the pay difference is. It's considered part-time/PRN, not full-time.

If you're looking for a place to learn, the state is great for that. One thing about the state hospitals, though, is that they rotate a "must stay cause you're on-call" schedule. If a nurse doesn't come in to work their shift, or they are short, if you're on call, you stay and work 16 hours. And you are still expected to show up the next day. They either compensate you via overtime, or more often, a paid day off to use later. This applies mostly to full-time staff.

In spite of all this, I still cry about the closure of our state hospitals. And I plan, hope, to work for the state system in some form as an NP someday.

Thank you so much. This really helps. Hopefully the one in Atlanta does not close. There is too much need for it to do so.

[TravelRN2016]

I did take the MH job and it has been a great learning experience, but I'm happy to report that I start in the ED in a few weeks!:) Thanks for all the replies!