How can I become a psychiatric nurse

[csneha26]

I am shortly going to pursue Diploma Of Nursing and later on I am going do a bachelor's in Nursing. I am mainly interested in dealing with mental health patients but I am not so sure about the scope it has in today's world. I would be grateful if you could shed some light on that topic.

I also wanted to know what further courses I need to take up and how much work experience I need to become a Psychiatric nurse.

Thankyou :)

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

How to become a psychiatric nurse:

1. Go to nursing school

1a. While in nursing school, see if you can get a job as a psychiatric or mental health tech. This will give you experience with working with psych patients, as well as helping you to start networking for a nursing job after graduation

1b. If you can, do your senior preceptorship/practicum in psych

1c. Mind you, 1a and 1b are completely optional, as I didn't do either and still got a psych nursing job.

2. Graduate from nursing school

3. Pass the NCLEX

4. Apply to psychiatric facilities/units/new grad programs

4a. You do not need a year of med/surg or any other specialty before going straight into psych. You'll learn the new grad ropes no matter where you work, and you'll have to keep up medical knowledge anyway as your patients will still have their medical problems that need addressing.

5. Consider joining Home - American Psychiatric Nurses Association for the educational and networking opportunities.

6. Subscribe to a psych nursing journal or two to build your psych nursing knowledge. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing is a good one. APNA's membership also comes with a journal.

7. Be persistent and keep trying.

As far as the scope in today's world...psychiatric patients are EVERYWHERE. Patient entering medical hospitals don't leave their psychiatric problems at the door when they check in--they come along for the ride too and need addressing.

Unfortunately, mental illness still has a stigma attached to it, and because of that stigma, a lot of patients don't seek treatment or are under-treated. Also, with the changes in insurance and the economy, a lot of psychiatric treatment is being forced towards partial and outpatient settings, and these patients need expert care and support both for the limited time they have inpatient as well as for their continuing care outpatient.

Hope this helps. Best of luck whatever you decide!