Looking for info about psych nursing..

tineann · Aug 9, 2005

Hi everyone, I am new to the boards and starting LPN school in one week. :) Before deciding on a career in nursing, I was extremely interested in psychology. I was wondering if any of you could give me some different career ideas for a psych nurse, and what the job description tends to be.
Thanks a bunch!!!

Hi-

I am an RN and work on an inpatient psych unit in CT. Initially when I started here (8 years ago) we had no LPN's. My nurse manager has recently hired a couple. They came from outpatient rehab centers and so came with some substance abuse experience. Because they are LPN's, their role is more limited than the RN's (ie can't do initial admissions, write or revise care plans, sign off MD orders) but there is still plenty for them to do. I think it may be the exception that my nurse manager decided to hire them - not sure if LPN's commonly work on psych units. I know that as an RN, at least on my unit, they prefer that you have a BSN to work psych. Again, not sure if that is standard.

I am sure there are other opportunities but this is all that I can speak to. Good luck in school!!

CharlieRN · Aug 9, 2005

My hospital has phased out the LPN's they used to have. I get the impression that Lpn's are generally thought not to be appropriate for a hospital level of acuity. Unless you have a burning desire to work in long term care, I don't see why anyone enters an LPN program. Just get the RN. The schooling is maybe a little tougher but not much longer.

elkpark · Aug 9, 2005

Well, obviously there is a lot of variety out there, because I've been a psych nurse for ~20 years, and every inpatient unit I've ever worked has used LPNs! As tineann noted, there is always the same role limitation/differentiation from the RNs that you will find anywhere (required by licensure). However, I've worked with a lot of great LPNs over the years who were v. experienced and skilled in psych settings.