Looking for advice on possible field change...

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Specializes in Psychiatry/Mental Health.

I have a year in med-surg experience and next year, I will be starting school for a MSN degree. I decided that med-surg is probably not for me, and I will be doing the psych NP MSN program.

I would like to have more flexibility in my work hours, when I go back to school, and I will be trying to conceive in the near future. I do not anticipate going to school full-time, and I believe they allow 5 years to complete the program.

I'd like to hear opinions regarding how important is it, during that 2-5 years, that I work in a field that I would like to practice in, upon becoming an NP. I am not 100% sure that I will do psych, but even if I don't, I don't think I would want to do inpatient work.

I am finding that a lot of the jobs that are available, that are either per diem, or have scheduling flexibility, are in specialties like dialysis, wound care clinics, or other niche areas. Would I be doing myself a great disservice to work somewhere like this until I finish school? Although I probably won't go into any of these fields, they appear to be able to provide a lifestyle conducive to my school/family plans, and earnings sufficient to pay the bills.

Thanks!

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Specializes in Psychiatry/Mental Health.

Pretty please?

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I work with someone who just finished his NP and he worked one shift per pay period while doing clinical. I think he worked 2 per pay period when he had just classes. He worked weekend nights for maximum earning power.

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Specializes in Research, Neurology.

I too am considering NP school part time while working close to FT in the future. Based on the extensive threads I've read about NP students working, it seems like most people prioritize or recommend a job that works best with their school needs logistically, versus trying to look for a job in a field that is similar to what they're degree will be tied too. A lot of them also plan on leaving that job behind once they graduate and land their first NP position. I'd check out the NP student nurse forum.

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Specializes in Psychiatry/Mental Health.
1 minute ago, Kyla RN said:

I too am considering NP school part time while working close to FT in the future. Based on the extensive threads I've read about NP students working, it seems like most people prioritize or recommend a job that works best with their school needs logistically, versus trying to look for a job in a field that is similar to what they're degree will be tied too. A lot of them also plan on leaving that job behind once they graduate and land their first NP position. I'd check out the NP student nurse forum.

Thank you, I didn't even think about checking there. My mind is so consumed with needing to get out of my current job before classes starts, I forgot that I am going to be a student!

8 minutes ago, mmc51264 said:

I work with someone who just finished his NP and he worked one shift per pay period while doing clinical. I think he worked 2 per pay period when he had just classes. He worked weekend nights for maximum earning power.

Thank you, I will consider that when choosing. I was originally looking for 24 hours pp, so that I can have some benefits, but I am now leaning towards per diem.

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Specializes in Psychiatry/Mental Health.

I've applied to a few jobs, now, all per-diem, including two substitute school nurse positions. Fingers crossed!

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On 10/24/2019 at 6:41 PM, Kyla RN said:

Based on the extensive threads I've read about NP students working, it seems like most people prioritize or recommend a job that works best with their school needs logistically, versus trying to look for a job in a field that is similar to what they're degree will be tied too.

Pretty soon the PMHNPs will jump in to give the OP advice and they will categorically disagree with this. The only NP specialty this might apply to IRL is FNP. All other specialties prefer and many require nursing experience related to the degree.

OP I would wait for the PMHNPs to chime in with their expert advice and really pay heed to what they say.

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Specializes in Retired.

Why are you getting a degree in psych if you have no experience?

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Specializes in Psychiatry/Mental Health.
3 minutes ago, Undercat said:

Why are you getting a degree in psych if you have no experience?

Well, the same reason that I got a degree in nursing, also with no experience--becsuse it interests me. I tend to volunteer to provide care for the patients who the other nurses complain are "behavioral". Also, I do have another degree, in which I took several psych classes. I know that isn't experience, but I think it made me more inquisitive, in that sense.

I would like to get psych nursing experience before starting that part of the program, and have discussed it with the school. I have applied to psych nursing jobs near me, but have not heard back yet. I made the post because I have been applying to psych jobs for 6 months, and have been grappling with the idea of applying to non-psych jobs.

Thanks!

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Specializes in Retired.

I thought I would like psych when I was in undergrad but having to be in a state hospital locked ward changed my mind:) Before you start to invest your time and money in a psych master's, I'd get a real taste for what a psych NP actually does. I get my behavioral health jollies by volunteering in family court after a long career in anesthesia and am fascinated by people's self defeating behaviors. But there us a vast difference between psychology and psychiatry...they are different fields with separate bodies if knowledge.

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Specializes in Psychiatry/Mental Health.
7 hours ago, Undercat said:

I thought I would like psych when I was in undergrad but having to be in a state hospital locked ward changed my mind:) Before you start to invest your time and money in a psych master's, I'd get a real taste for what a psych NP actually does. I get my behavioral health jollies by volunteering in family court after a long career in anesthesia and am fascinated by people's self defeating behaviors. But there us a vast difference between psychology and psychiatry...they are different fields with separate bodies if knowledge.

Thank you so much for responding. I feel the same way--I don't want to work at a state hospital. I currently have an autistic family member in such a facility, and seeing what he's going through is heart-breaking. In my state, mental health hospitals are under they purveyance of the department of corrections. My goal would be get to work with kids like him and try and help prevent them from ending up at places like that. There isn't one nearby, so that probably wouldn't even be an option for me, work-wise.

There are a lot of outpatient programs, partial hospitalization programs, group homes, etc. near me that need workers in the mental health field. Those are the jobs that I have been applying to...sadly, with no luck (as of yet). I did just complete my first year of being a nurse. Most of the positions require 6 mos - 1 year of experience, but prefer 2 years.

I did my psych clinical on a locked geri-psych unit at a nearby acute-care hospital, which I enjoyed. They are always hiring, but they also require experience. I've applied, anyway.

I do have an opportunity arranged, next month, to spend time with a psych NP at a local outpatient facility. I will also see if there is any volunteer-work within the surrounding communities that might prove beneficial.

Thank you again for your insight. Even if I do accept a job outside of the behavioral health field, I'll continue to plug away at putting in job applications within it!

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Specializes in Retired.

Keep applying. And looking back on NY state hospital experience, it would have been a fascinating experience if I were more mature and less stressed out (working 20 hours a week also). So many new anti psychotic drugs have come out that things have changed a lot. Glad you are getting that time with psych NP. The only ones I have met are prescription writing machines in separate groups, but I always thought they had a great job that you can do into older age. Good , useful work but every patient gets their 15 minutes and they have a long day. Addictions is also a hot field where you get to use a lot of psych skills and there's Always business:(

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