Med/Surg to Psych

whodatnurse · Jan 3, 2009

Wow...I'll be very interested to read your replies. I would think you would be a hot commodity for a psych position. I'm graduating in July and I too am particularly interested in a career in psych nursing. But my plan is to do two years of Med-Surg so I have a foundation that (I've come to believe) will give me the widest array of future career options.

Best of luck to you! :nuke:

cherilee · Jan 4, 2009

believe it or not you are a hot commodity for this field. You have psych experience, Most sick people have psychiatric issues ie depression, losses, substance abuse, you name it. Your med surge experience is invaluable in this field. most psych pts have medical issues as well. Just get your foot in the door by perdiem, or start in geri psych. Most cities are hurting for nurses . If LA is anything like Boston, you wont have a problem.

good luck:yeah:

lifecycle1898 · Jan 6, 2009

Have you checked out NPI Semmel institute at UCLA?

I've been thinking about going in the other direction.

chrisg0705 · Jan 7, 2009

The Semmel Institute at UCLA requires two years of experience. I don't have psych experience. Do you know where I can go that hires psych nurses without psych experience?

IMHO, I would work per diem in med/surg before you make the switch. Med/surg is very demanding.

Thanks!

Chris

lifecycle1898 · Jan 7, 2009

I'm surprised to hear about that requirement since there has been a steady stream of new grads hired the past few years. Geriatric psych is pretty demanding. I currently work in child/adolescent psych at NPI. Who told you that?

Have you tried Cedars or White Memorial?

chrisg0705 · Jan 7, 2009

Hi,

Cedars requires experience. I have not tried White Memorial. I'll check there. If you look at the job bulletin for NPI it always says experience needed. It also says New Grad positions are closed for Spring of 09. I'll call them again and find out the story.

Thanks for your help!

Chris

SinOmonGrl63 · Feb 6, 2009

Hi Chris,

I think we're about the same age, nursing is my second career too! I fell in love with psych in nursing school and felt uncomfortable with going straight to psych. My clinical skills weren't too great coming out of nursing school and I didn't want to loose what skills I had before I had a chance to develop as a nurse. So, I'm just now at that one year mark of med surg experience. I think it's been invaluable! I feel I learned so much more than I ever knew I didn't know!! I applied for a psych nurse job for Riverside County and got hired on the spot and will be starting later this month! The interview was all kinds of scenarios with regards to med/surg. Also, a new grad friend of my applied for the same position and was told "they really want someone with med/surg background" --- even though they advertise "new grad opportunities"...

I think it's worth it to put your year in to develop that med/surg base. I know I have so much to learn in my new position with regards to caring for psych patients and legal issues which surround thier needs - I can't image coming into the arena with still needing to learn the basics that I've picked up over this past year.

Best of luck to you!

whodatnurse · Feb 7, 2009

Hi Chris,
I think we're about the same age, nursing is my second career too! I fell in love with psych in nursing school and felt uncomfortable with going straight to psych. My clinical skills weren't too great coming out of nursing school and I didn't want to loose what skills I had before I had a chance to develop as a nurse. So, I'm just now at that one year mark of med surg experience. I think it's been invaluable! I feel I learned so much more than I ever knew I didn't know!! I applied for a psych nurse job for Riverside County and got hired on the spot and will be starting later this month! The interview was all kinds of scenarios with regards to med/surg. Also, a new grad friend of my applied for the same position and was told "they really want someone with med/surg background" --- even though they advertise "new grad opportunities"...
I think it's worth it to put your year in to develop that med/surg base. I know I have so much to learn in my new position with regards to caring for psych patients and legal issues which surround thier needs - I can't image coming into the arena with still needing to learn the basics that I've picked up over this past year.
Best of luck to you!

I'm doing my clinical rotation in psych right now. I'm fairly certain that's the specialty area I want to pursue and I had been struggling with just wanting to get started with what I really want to do versus putting in 1-2 years of med-surg. I think you've made a compelling argument for the latter. I now regard such a background as an important foundation I would always be able to draw upon to serve the total client, beyond their psychiatric-specific needs. The nurses at my facility as well as my clinical instructor have also gone this route prior to specializing in psych, and they have been strongly encouraging me to do so as well.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Feb 7, 2009

I began my nursing career in psych. Just because a facility wishes they had people with experience doesn't mean they won't hire without it.

At one point I did work med-surg though, and was given a complete orientation, so anything I had forgotten came back.

I believe if you know where your love is, go for it.

chrisg0705 · Feb 8, 2009

Hi,

Guess what? I just got hired for a psych position on the spot two days ago too! Our stories sound so similar! My nurse manager told me it was a good idea to get the med/surg experience first. Best of luck to you and let me know how it goes.

Chris

SinOmonGrl63 · Feb 9, 2009

Best of luck to you too! Our stories are SO similar. What facility did you get hired at? Your in LA right? Let's try to keep in touch as we orient on our new jobs. I start Feb. 22. Do you know your start date yet?