Got hired!!

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Hey everyone I just got hired as a psych nurse at this hospital they have children, adolescent adult and geriatric psych. I don't know which one to pick :/ kinda confused. I have med surg experience and like working with adults but don't have any child or adolescent experience and don't know whether I will like working with the younger population. Where do you think I should start out?

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Specializes in Psychiatric nursing.

Personally, I like adult psych. At my last nursing job, I wasn't even able to work on the adolescent unit because I was "too young".

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I also prefer adults. But for every poster who prefers adults, there's another who prefers kids...and we're both right :)

Why not ask if you can float among the units to try them out first? Even if you pick one, odds are good that you'll end up floating to the other anyway.

Congratulations!

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They hired me as a chemical dependency nurse part time and will float to other units as well I hope I will find my niche :)

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
They hired me as a chemical dependency nurse part time and will float to other units as well I hope I will find my niche :)

Warning you...you may not want to leave CD ;)

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I'm actually in a dilemma I was a med surg for a year and was working nights couldn't take it anymore was ruining my life and when I put my resignation letter in they said they will put me days as an hourly position for 42/hr. i got this Jon offer in another psych hospital as part time days chemical dependency too but pay is 31/hr. psych is what I always was drawn too. I honestly don't know what to do :/

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Hey everyone I just got hired as a psych nurse at this hospital they have children adolescent adult and geriatric psych. I don't know which one to pick :/ kinda confused. I have med surg experience and like working with adults but don't have any child or adolescent experience and don't know whether I will like working with the younger population. Where do you think I should start out?[/quote']

Go for the psych. I'm in a similar situation. I'm in med surg position which I don't like, only for a few months. Go for what you love. I'm walking into a children psych interview as we speak. Good luck, I love psych!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
I'm actually in a dilemma I was a med surg for a year and was working nights couldn't take it anymore was ruining my life and when I put my resignation letter in they said they will put me days as an hourly position for 42/hr. i got this Jon offer in another psych hospital as part time days chemical dependency too but pay is 31/hr. psych is what I always was drawn too. I honestly don't know what to do :/

Tough call. On one hand, you have a pay raise and plum hours. On the other hand, you have a chance to work in your desired specialty but will have to take a pay drop. Only you can decide what one is the better one for you.

IMO, if psych is what you want and you are financially able to swing the salary, then go for it. Life is too short to be miserable, and it may be worth the pay cut to pursue your dream.

Best of luck whatever you decide!

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I went into psych straight from nursing school three and a half years ago and I love psych! It is not for everyone but it is very much my passion. I have always worked with adults and shy away from the adolescent unit. I have done chemical dependency/ Geri Psych/ Adult Psych and Crisis Stabilization- last night I worked on an adolescent unit for the first time. I guess its the initial fear of the unknown but try it all and see what you love.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
I'm actually in a dilemma I was a med surg for a year and was working nights couldn't take it anymore was ruining my life and when I put my resignation letter in they said they will put me days as an hourly position for 42/hr. i got this Jon offer in another psych hospital as part time days chemical dependency too but pay is 31/hr. psych is what I always was drawn too. I honestly don't know what to do :/

If you were offered the psych job, PT days @ 31 per hour, and the other offer wasn't there, would you be happy taking that Chem Dep job? Or would you need to look for something else to pay the bills?

If the CD job wasn't there, do you think you'd be happy working the day position at the higher salary?

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I was always interested in detox. It's just the pay is very low and it's not even full time. I have loans to pay and I'm going into graduate school in July I don't know :/ I really want to do the chemical dependency job but I don't think I can financially :/

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
I was always interested in detox. It's just the pay is very low and it's not even full time. I have loans to pay and I'm going into graduate school in July I don't know :/ I really want to do the chemical dependency job but I don't think I can financially :/

I hear you...at the end of the day, the bills do have to get paid :/

Is picking up a second part-time or per-diem job an option? Or...you could take that other job, and then try to pick up per-diem shifts in detox.

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