Graduating in May - Need Advice

Granted Fal · May 8, 2005

As a nurse you must get the experience, you have to pay your dues. You don't want to be confronted with a medical situation and be sitting there like an idiot not even knowing how to dress a small wound. I think it's very necessary aspect of calling yourself a nurse.

Morgan314 · May 24, 2005

After graduating in 1983, my first job was on med/surg and I lasted 4 weeks. It was fast-paced and scarey for a new grad. After working the next 4 years in a geriatric nursing facilty, I finally landed the job I'd always wanted as a psych nurse in a hospital, and have been in psych nuring ever since. Other nurses that came to the unit after working med/surg made great mentors and teachers.

Hi!
I will be graduating in May from an RN program. I am very interested in psych nursing and have had several job offers. I also have a BSW. Eventually I would like to go on for my Masters degree, in order to be able to be a therapist. I would like some advice from current psych nurses. Do I really need a year of med/surg first? Are you happy being a psych nurse? What suggestions can you give me to make a smooth transition from student to RN?
Thank you!

Psychrich · May 25, 2005

I graduated 10 years ago and when right into psych. I feel that there are a few times working on a medical-psych unit it was a little tough remembering my skills, but not too bad. If you feel that you will want to work in other areas other than psych, it may not be a bad idea to see if you can pick up some shifts on a medical floor.

Good luck with your decission. We need more good nurses to work in the psychiatric field.

kadokin, ASN, RN · May 26, 2005

Do you really want this to be you? Do you want to be the weak link? Do you want to be the one who does not have the experience indepth and has to go to other nurses for it? Med surg is h*ll. Necessary h*ll. Get med/surg experience. Then get emergency department experience. ED is also h*ll but more interesting h*ll. Then when you go to psych you are the resource person. You are the one others seek out when things are going to pot.

OP-Keep in mind, as a new nurse, no matter where you start out, you will have to ask for help, advice, collaboration. NO ONE PERSON KNOWS IT ALL. I started out in inpatient psych. and it was frightening at times. Yes, I had to ask my more seasoned colleagues for help. But I would have been doing the same thing no matter what specialty I had chosen. I have learned a lot as we get many pts who are medically compromised. I STILL ask for help from co-workers who have more med/surg experience than I do. Some days I wish I would have put in a year of med/surg. If psych is what you want to persue, give it a try. No matter where you end up, you will always be learning, one of the benefits of this job. :)