Losing your skills in psych?

[Jedi of Zen]

Student here - I have heard it said that nurses who work in psych tend to lose some of their nursing skills (due to not having to use them as much). Have any psych nurses out there found this to be true? And if so, do you ever 'moonlight' in another department to keep fresh on your skills?

Thanks for your time.

[Jules A, MSN]

It's like anything, if you dont use it you lose it.

For me to return to a medical hospital I would need a very good induction.

Skills are there but would really need alot of polishing.

For example wound care, I did it in my training and when I did placements in medical hospitals, however over the past 5 years have probably dressed about 3-5 wounds.

I agree and fortunately in my area the demand for nurses is strong enough that they are willing to train us if we decide to defect. :) I did clinicals with a great ED nurse who had been a psych nurse for 20 years prior to going to the ED as you can imagine she wasn't exactly a spring chicken but was a great asset to the ED.

[trepinCT]

do what you love..i am graduating in one more year. i wont let anyone talk me out of Psych. nursing..my argument? I am 40 years old, have 20 years of healthcare experience before going to nursing school, and life is too short..lets say i go right to psych nursing and "Jane" does 1 year of med -surg first..she works with me a year later...5 years down the road say we both want to go to med surg..guess what? we are in same boat and "Jane" has no advantages over me...so whats the point? That is the old fashioned way of thinking and now most places will recruit straight to the ER, ICU, CCU, OR, Maternity, psych..all places you could never have worked as a GN...

again..do what you love..life is short

[Iowa_I_Care]

I am in the same boat as you trepin. I too am 40, but have been in healthcare for only 5 1/2 years. I am not 20 and do not have 20 years to dink around in other units to figure out where I belong. The minute I stepped into the Psych unit I knew this is where I wanted to work. I just started a position where I will work 32 hours one week in Psych and 32 hours the next week as a float nurse to any unit. I'm kinda getting the best of both worlds!!