help - psych tech position for rn

[edie1]

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

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

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 :).

Like I said, not everyone who sees "jail" thinks "psych" so you can't presume that anyone does. Also, we in psych know a lot of criminals have psych issues but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a psych job (and that's not directed at you, it goes back to my earlier point).

In addition, consider that in most cases, your resume first has to get past a HR recruiter, who may be but is more likely NOT familiar with neither corrections nor psych nursing, and she's going to try to make the call as to whether you are qualified to forward the resume on to unit manager...

Have you considered contacting nurse managers directly? I don't recommend storming the Bastille, mostly because trying to walk onto a psych unit with resume in hand will work against you. But perhaps get a hold of a name and e-mail address and talk to someone that way.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

Like I said, not everyone who sees "jail" thinks "psych" so you can't presume that anyone does. Also, we in psych know a lot of criminals have psych issues but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a psych job (and that's not directed at you, it goes back to my earlier point).

A case could be made that nurses on any unit deal with patients with psychiatric issues. The central point, IMO, is whether they are involved with treating those issues. If the answer is no, it isn't psychiatric experience. I have cared for patients wearing holter monitors. That doesn't make me a cardiac nurse.