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Discussion

Immediate advice needed!

I'm a new RN looking to start a mental health nursing career. I'm hoping to eventually become a mental health nurse practitioner, and maybe to do some psyche travel nursing before then. I currently have two job offers and need to decide which one to take in the next 24 hours:

1. An adult unit at a psychiatric hospital.

Pros:

- much better pay (nearly $20,000 more per year).

- possibly better career opportunities, owned by a giant company with facilities all over the country.

Cons:

- 2nd shift, not great with two small children, and one weekend off every two weeks with two more random days off.

- less dynamic work day, probably less patient interaction as I would be managing the unit with an LPN and a tech doing more with the patients.

2. An ACT program.

Pros:

- working out in the community vs. in a dusty institution

- better hours, typically 8-5 M-F, better with a family

- more patient interaction

- patient care appears to be more team oriented

Cons:

- much less pay

- possibly fewer long term career opportunities.

- occasional on-call duty

Any input would be appreciated!

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    • Featured Replies

    • Experts

    For psych NPs I always recommend an inpatient adult unit for experience in monitoring and learning medications prior to actually prescribing them. That and Uhhhh if it takes you 5 years to apply and get through NP school you will have made an extra $100,000 over the ACT job. No choice there imo.

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    I agree with the above poster. Get acute inpatient experience particularly meds and having fellow staff support. You will need the experience you attain in inpatient for work in the community. Yeah it's not the best hours with kids but it won't be forever. Go the Option 1

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    • Author

    Thank you both!

  • Quote

    I would pick option 1. Acute care experience is much more beneficial to gain experience for a psych np program.

  • Quote
    • Experts

    Even though you have likely made your decision...for the record, I agree with the others: if going the NP route is possibly in your future, you really need the acute/inpatient experience.

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