help - psych tech position for rn

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hi -

I need some advice or not sure what to call it. Can someone explain the point of psych techs? Are they the same as patient care assistants on a medical floor only they work in psych? And.....would it be wrong/conflict of interest/etc for an rn to work as a psych tech? I am looking at a position and not sure if they would even consider me - I am an rn with many years medical experience and wanted to get a position in psych but have not been successful even though i am ancc certified in psych and have a BA in psych. I thought it would be fun for awhile and I would gain the experience I am apparently lacking. Any opinions? I was wondering if the job descriptions/role would in any way conflict with each other ie as an rn i know to do certain things and as a psych tech i would report to rn thus delaying care that i would automatically do as an rn or am i thinking too much here? :) thanks in advance

edie

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

You could say that psych techs are the equivalent of PCAs/CNAs. They do vitals, monitor the milieu, assist patients with ADLs, run groups and interact with patients. In some states, they can give medications (such as in CA). You may or may not be able to work as a psych tech in your state; it depends on your BON. In addition, facilities may not want to hire you as a tech d/t liability issues, same as hospitals may not want to hire RNs as CNAs: you are confined to the tech scope at work but should something happen you're held to the standard of your highest license. Plus facilities don't want to spend time and money hiring RNs as techs/aides when they know that the minute a RN job opens up you are gone. That being said, you never know so if your BON is OK with it, you can always give it a try.

You can't get ANCC psych-mental health certification without 2000 hours of psych experience, so you have at least 1 year's worth of psych experience under your belt (and if you got certified without those 2000 hours, you will have some explaining to do to the ANCC if they ever find out). So experience-wise, you should be a contender for psych RN jobs. See if you can get in somewhere via the PRN door. You could also try agency nursing--some agencies will consider applicants with one year of experience.

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
You can't get ANCC psych-mental health certification without 2000 hours of psych experience, so you have at least 1 year's worth of psych experience under your belt (and if you got certified without those 2000 hours, you will have some explaining to do to the ANCC if they ever find out).

I carried an RN,C in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing for five years. I had the same thought. I don't know how the OP even got to take the exam unless she lied about her prior experience.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
I carried an RN,C in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing for five years. I had the same thought. I don't know how the OP even got to take the exam unless she lied about her prior experience.

If OP worked on a psych-medical unit, then it's possible he/she met criteria. But that's a unit that is specifically designated as being psych AND medical. Taking care of patients with psych issues on a med-surg floor isn't necessarily the same thing...if that's true, then the reverse must be true and I qualify to sit for the med-surg certification.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Actually OP, that's another option for you: a psych-medical unit. Those are patients that are acute psychiatrically as well as medically. They're more psychiatrically acute than you'd find in your average med-surg patient, but they're more medically acute than you'd find in your average psych patient.

Another option since you have a medical background would be geropsych, since that patient population is more medically unstable d/t its age.

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Hi Meriwhen

Thanks so much.

I worked for three years in a jail so yeah I have more psych experience than I ever thought I would want. Inpatient hospital seems to not be liking that experience I guess because some of my patients have actually murdered people. I have no idea just thought it might show my interest/dedication to mental health but hmmm :).

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Orca

Am I the OP and what is that and as above a jail is pretty psych related - ie gave and monitored psych meds, suicide watch, hostile behavior, schizophrenics. bipolars, people very high on all types of substances with withdrawal monitoring, ran psych clinic with staff psychiatrists - i think the major difference is that I also had to have medical knowledge and had little time to worry about what others thought of my training/education. Seems I asked for help/advice and I have been put in that criminal category - NOT HELPFUL. Typical nurse eating their young I guess. I really came here for help/advice and I may read to much into this but I should get a trial first so I shall look for a response and then find a professional site where I dont have to justify my existence. This makes me feel really sad.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Hi Meriwhen

Thanks so much.

I worked for three years in a jail so yeah I have more psych experience than I ever thought I would want. Inpatient hospital seems to not be liking that experience I guess because some of my patients have actually murdered people. I have no idea just thought it might show my interest/dedication to mental health but hmmm :).

Well, how are you portraying it on your resume?

The problem is that many employers aren't going to automatically think "psych" when they see jail/corrections positions because there's many jobs in that arena that are not considered psych at all. So you can't just say, "I have psych experience because I worked in a jail" and expect that to smoothly pave the way by itself.

You need to be specific and indicate exactly what you did in the jail that is pertinent to psych, and highlight that in your resume/cover letters.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Actually, Orca's response was pretty fair in light of the fact that you've never mentioned any prior psych experience in the jail, but instead talked about how to get psych experience that you stated you were lacking.

Certifications are something that are often faked or achieved with less-than-honorable means. Unlike some certifications where experience isn't mandatory (such as CEN), specialty experience is required to hold ANCC certification. So people, especially HR and managers, are wary if they see an applicant claiming a certification yet aren't clearly showing the relevant work experience. And you can't blame them.

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thanx for attempting to explain the accusation made by orca and I still dont understand why respond to anyone unless you are trying to help them. i re-read what i wrote and if it was not clear i meant APPARENTLY lacking as stated - i didnt go into full explanation and yes my resume is very clear what i did in the jail (actually jail nursing is probably 10 percent medical and 90 percent psych (including the feigned medical illness) And yes it is amazing to me that nurses who run a psych unit would not know that a huge percentage of criminals have mental health issues. Thanks for your response. I am taking the wrong tack here :).

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

It wasn't intended as an accusation, just didn't understand. I stand corrected, and I apologize.

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I too Orca apologize - I worked really hard to get my education and experience and it would mean nothing to me if it was not legit :). sorry :)

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