Grad with BA in psych, conisidering a career in psych nursing

HeyFraydo · Jan 11, 2005

I have a BA in Psych and BS Nursing Also Certified in Psych. I've been a Psych Nurse for 8 yrs.. I think the BA in Psych gives you a added perspective and knowledge in Psychiatry as well as looking good on the resume :). Right now I am a Psych Travel Nurse working as a manager. Financially speaking it's hard to beat Travel Nursing. I've investigated further education such as becoming a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Specialist and I continue to do look into that. Financially it doesn't pay more than Travel Nursing but there are so many other considerations than money mainly what you are happy doing. I like Travel Nursing not just for the financial gain but the experiences of working with different facilities and Traveling in different parts of the country. You do make more per hour worked especially if you become knowledgable in what companies to work for or how to work as an independent contractor. This allows you time to do the things you want and even take off time between assignments...I like that :). Some perm management jobs may offer big bucks but you may have to work 50 - 60 hours a week with constant worry and still not make the equivelent per hour what a Traveler makes. Some Travelers can make over $100,000 a year

Annerose · Jan 12, 2005

Hi,

I just accepted my first travel nurse position (psych) so it's good to hear that you like it:) What companies do you consider among the best? I'm headed out to CA in 2 days.

annerose

StuPer · Jan 13, 2005

Hello Vanessa,

Before getting into the nitty gritty of what psych nursing is.... can I ask what you think it is?... what is your expectation?

For one thing is fair to say, unless your tied to a particular geographical location, that its what you make it. For example, some nurses are happy to work in a psycho geriatric facility, managing and helping clients with organic brain disease mainly, such as dementia, this can be very hard graft, but some people (and I think they're all saints) find the work rewarding and challenging.

Other people work in the community supporting clients in thier own environment, and the role is principaly about management of ADL's, crisis intervention and social support.

Some nurse work in acute care facilities where adults (and some child/adolescent units) who are in a psychiatric crisis, are treated, sometimes with but also without consent. These sites can sometimes be great theraputic environments, but often are a melting pot of differing diagnosis, with varied risk, making individual theraputic and clinical interventions harder to achieve.

I work in a consultation/liaison role, where I mainly assess people who have presented to the Emergency Department with a psychiatric problem, I also provide peer support and clinical intervention to people admitted to a general hospital with a physical problem, but may have a concurrant psychiatric problem.

In all these fields oportunity exists for enhancement, for one main reason, nursing is a profession in crisis, a staffing crisis - worldwide. If you are a nurse you have marketable skills anywhere in the world, there is'nt a country that can boast a full complement of nurses.

Now I'm in Australia, and of course the realities of nursing in the US differ to some degree, but I hope I've managed to give you some food for thought.. good luck in your endeavours, and if you do decide to become a psych nurse you'll I'm sure find the work challenging, sometimes hard, but I have to say that in psych most of us would'nt swap our job for the world.... the rewards are just worth too much.

regards StuPer

Nessd429 · Jan 16, 2005

My positive expectations (and I don't know how much they match up with the reality of psych nursing) is that psych nursing is a flexible, multifaceted field that allows me to work with different populations in different capacities (med management, therapy, treating physical problems, crisis intervention). I also expect that private practice is a fairly bright possibility with a masters, that the earning potential is generally good (able to earn 55k +) the job security is excellent due to demand, and that nurses are valued. My negative expectations are being overworked, stressed (but who isn't?) talked down to by doctors, and handling difficult psych patients that attempt to disrespect nurses. All these expectations, both negative and positive are what I've heard from nurses themselves but I'm sure the good largely outweighs the bad. Am I way off? Or do I have a good picture of psych nursing? Of course I am still going to try and volunteer so I can really see for myself. by the way I live in NYC, and from the way I've been following the job market, the prospects look very good here. :) Thanks!

Vanessa

StuPer · Jan 18, 2005

Hello again Vanessa,

It is a little dificult to resond to your expectations, while yes psych nursing is multi-faceted and yes you can choose to work in many areas, however most people are empolyed in a particular role, in one of these areas, and most of them require experience and training in those particular areas. So for example if you were to start a career in an acute admission ward, and through experience became an expert clinician in that area, this would'nt necessarily translate into other areas. So if you did then choose to change roles, you would effectively be starting from scratch.

This would probably be true of state health service facilities, but if you were in private practice, I'm not so sure.... we have very few private practice nurses of any description in Australia, due to the free(ish) nature of our healthcare system.

As I said before nursing everywhere is a good prospect from an employment perspective.... and I don't want to sound too negative, but ask yourself why that is? While there has been an increasing number of people requiring healthcare, that is not the whoile picture by a long shot. You mention that nurses have told you of the stress and overworked nature of nursing, I know that in some states in the US overtime is compulsory, something I find amazing, and know there would be a rebellion if they tried that here.

Nursing and in my humble (and biased) opinion, psych nursing, is a great profession, and provides the most meaningful healthcare to the clients. But make no mistake, there will be quite a few days when you ask yourself WHY!!... why did I become a Nurse, on other days, you'll come away with a wonderful sense of acomplishment, knowing you've really helped someone. Most days will however be a blend of both... to one degree or another.... ohhh and most nurses dont keep nursing for the financial rewards... because they often don't match your efforts.

In summary, there are personal highs in Nursing that are dificult to achieve in other fields, but as with all things in life the balancing factor is there are plenty of days when you wish world would just f*** off and leave you alone.

Hmmm reflecting on this reply I'm not sure if I'm helping or hurting your ambition... ohh well I hope this helps in some fashion.

regards StuPer

ladybird1292 · Jan 19, 2005

Hello again Vanessa,
It is a little dificult to resond to your expectations, while yes psych nursing is multi-faceted and yes you can choose to work in many areas, however most people are empolyed in a particular role, in one of these areas, and most of them require experience and training in those particular areas. So for example if you were to start a career in an acute admission ward, and through experience became an expert clinician in that area, this would'nt necessarily translate into other areas. So if you did then choose to change roles, you would effectively be starting from scratch.
.........
Nursing and in my humble (and biased) opinion, psych nursing, is a great profession, and provides the most meaningful healthcare to the clients. But make no mistake, there will be quite a few days when you ask yourself WHY!!... why did I become a Nurse, on other days, you'll come away with a wonderful sense of acomplishment, knowing you've really helped someone. Most days will however be a blend of both... to one degree or another.... ohhh and most nurses dont keep nursing for the financial rewards... because they often don't match your efforts.

I'm so pleased I found this thread. I am currently a nursing student in Australia, and loved my praxis in Mental Health. It was an area where I could SEE myself, and it was over too quickly for me. Since then I have been considering specializing in Mental Health once I graduate. However, now I am being advised to do a year med/surg as a grad then specialize. The main reason for this advice is that I shouldn't limit myself directly out of uni and one year med/surg will increase my range of choices. What is your opinion..... I have appreciated what has been posted so far. Although, of course I know I have to ultimately make my own decision. But I would like to know what others think.

Regards :)

StuPer · Jan 20, 2005

Hi Ladybird,

Well as you said the decision is yours, I remember when I trained (in the UK) I enjoyed placements in a number of sites... including a surgical ward. But once I'd worked on the acute mental health unit I knew I'd made the right choice (You finish training in the UK specialised in one field... I chose Mental Health).

It was'nt the working environment, as some of the practice was archaic, but the patients. I don't know what particularily, but being involved in the helping of people, who had reached crisis point, and then seeing the process of recovery and knowing that your personal contribution, involvement, and skills, helped that person, as much as the medication that they were prescribed. It was so rewarding to see people who arrive largely dependant on others for their security and safety, slowly regain that independance and the confidence that they could if needed call on the mental health services to help them out.

Why gasbag on like this? well the decision to do a med/surg year is yours, that choice depends on what you believe your final career move will be. But its interesting you very rarely hear a student advised to do a years psych before settling into med/surg... So you dont limit your options. There are a shortage of nurses in all areas, if you feel mental health is for you (and it isnt for everyone) then go for it.

Its all so bollocks in my opinion to assume that starting in psych prevents you from going into other areas.. if you do do that obviously you'll be starting at the bottom of the ladder.. but if you did do a med/surg year and then went on to do psych... and then returned after a number of years, do you think most employers will look on that 1st yr much different than if you had'nt? Rather I think you've been advised that way because the advisors can't believe you'd really want to do psych and are trying to 'save you' from yourself.

regards StuPer

ladybird1292 · Jan 20, 2005

Hi Ladybird,
It was'nt the working environment, as some of the practice was archaic, but the patients. I don't know what particularily, but being involved in the helping of people, who had reached crisis point, and then seeing the process of recovery and knowing that your personal contribution, involvement, and skills, helped that person, as much as the medication that they were prescribed. It was so rewarding to see people who arrive largely dependant on others for their security and safety, slowly regain that independance and the confidence that they could if needed call on the mental health services to help them out.
Why gasbag on like this? well the decision to do a med/surg year is yours, that choice depends on what you believe your final career move will be. But its interesting you very rarely hear a student advised to do a years psych before settling into med/surg... So you dont limit your options. There are a shortage of nurses in all areas, if you feel mental health is for you (and it isnt for everyone) then go for it.
Its all so bollocks in my opinion to assume that starting in psych prevents you from going into other areas.. if you do do that obviously you'll be starting at the bottom of the ladder.. but if you did do a med/surg year and then went on to do psych... and then returned after a number of years, do you think most employers will look on that 1st yr much different than if you had'nt? Rather I think you've been advised that way because the advisors can't believe you'd really want to do psych and are trying to 'save you' from yourself.
regards StuPer

Hi StuPer

Thanks for your input. The people that have advised me are NOT interested in psych, and can't see why anyone would want to go there lol. I love the language of psych, and being able to apply what little knowledge I have and I find I am more interested in the pts mental state of mind than in their physical care, although both are important. I love to talk to people, and I can fully understand the enjoyment you receive watching someone grow in confidence, and believe I would receive the same fulfilment. Whilst on praxis I enjoyed the entire experience and wanted to see more whilst other students I was with couldn't wait for it to be over.

There seems to be a general bias against going into a speciality straight from the degree. Generally lecturers advise all students one year general nursing then look at specializing therefore the advice was aimed generally at the class and not at me personally. I would think this is to get a better feeling for the different areas of nursing before committing oneself. My last med-surg praxis my facilitator advised me not to limit my options, but admitted that she had a clinical bias. During the Christmas break I contacted a few employment agencies to find out where the areas of demand were, and again was advised med-surg then specialisation, that I was limiting myself should I go straight into psych.

In the end I agree it is my choice, and I would have to agree with you that 1 year of med-surg in the beginning is not going to be of use in 10 years time :)

I have really enjoyed reading your feedback, thank you for taking the time to respond to my questions.

Regards

Ladybird :)

Nessd429 · Feb 12, 2005

I've also often wondered if going straight to psych would be limiting, and that then i would be in a bind if i realized it wasnt right for me. Thats where my concern is. I'm most interested in the counseling aspect of helping others, not so much the physical aspect. How much does psych nursing offer opportunities for therapy? Im guessing it varies widely depending on the type of facility one works in, and of course the degree one has. Anyway, I've also considered clinical social work because like nursing, it has diversity and options, and can have a heavy emphasis on counseling. Someone on this site said that specializing in psych then wanting to switch would be like starting from scratch. It's my understanding that "specializing" means getting a masters in a particular area of nursing? I figured that as someone with a BSN, you can jump around to different areas.

Getting back to social work. . the options and employability really appeal to me, but the earnings (unlike nursing) look pretty disappointing. In fact, to be honest, the low salary is what makes me most hesitant about social work. Given that counseling is something I'm seriously interested in. . can anyone offer some insight into how these two fields compare? Thanks so much!

Vanessa:rolleyes:

elkpark · Feb 13, 2005

There are some other older threads on the website that discuss this topic that you may want to review. According to the nursing profession's standards of practice for psychiatric nursing, generalist (undergraduate) level psych nurses do education and counseling of groups and individuals, but do not do psychotherapy. Graduate level education is considered the appropriate preparation as a psychotherapist. (In fact, MSN programs in psych nursing consist largely of psychotherapy training.)

Undergrad level RNs do lots of 1:1 interaction with clients, and lots of educational/therapeutic groups on various topics, but do not do psychotherapy (or, at least, are not supposed to -- the standards of practice are voluntary).

It would be up to you to decide what level of "counseling" you would find professionally and personally satisfying. If you want to be a "real" psychotherapist as a nurse, you will have a hard time getting anyone to take you seriously without a Master's degree and national certification.

As far as I have observed over the years, BSW grads get jobs doing case management, placement, and that sort of thing, and the social workers who are psychotherapists have MSWs.

Generally, when people speak of "specializing" in nursing, they're talking about working as a "regular" RN in a particular specialty of their choosing. You don't have to have additional degrees beyond basic RN licensure. (There is national certification (voluntary) available at the basic RN level in most specialties, which recognizes that you have extensive experience and expertise in that specific area of nursing.) And, in that context, RNs are free to change to another specialty any time they choose (and can get a job in the other area -- if you've been, say, a psych nurse for the last 15 years, it can be hard to convince someone to give you a job in NICU -- and vice versa. But it can be done ...) "Specializing" at the Master's level does lock you into a particular specialty.

If, as you say, you're most interested in counseling/therapy and "not so interested in the physical aspect," you may want to think long and hard about taking the nursing route. Best wishes with whatever you decide.