Job Market (Specific to Psych Nursing)

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I am set to finish up my BSN this December, and like all new grads I'm super apprehensive about the current job market! I love mental health nursing and plan to specialize in it...today one of my classmates told me that jobs in psych are easier to come by than in other specialties, that there is "still a shortage" in this area. Any truth to this? Of course I would love if this were the case! I'm in southern California, by the way.

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There is no shortage of psych RNs. When I graduated in 2009, no jobs were to be found for New Grads in So. CA, and believe me I went to every job fair far and wide, tons and tons of competition. I had to leave the state and got my 1st job working at a private Psych Hospital. Now, with 2 years of experience, it is still difficult. I finally got a job last week, took a huge cut in pay in So. Cal. I strongly advise to do a year of med/surge or Tele 1st. You will be thankful in the end. This has been my experience. California is in such a mess financially right now that Mental Health funding has been slashed. It is harder and harder for hospitals to make $$ with inpatient psych. There is no shortage of RNs anywhere in CA.

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i'm not a nurse...i'm seriously considering nursing, esp. psych nursing. from what i've been reading, i think there might be jobs available in psych because many nurses prefer more "glamorous" specialties, such as med/surg or ER.

also, i have a relative who works in the medical field. anything to do with the problems with the brain, etc. really frightens her. i think there are *many* people out there who would avoid psych nursing because of this type of fear/discomfort. so it's up to the rest of us to consider psych. if we don't, who will??

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