Mental Health Worker/Nursing and Mass.

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Currently a Psych Tech. in Connecticut going for my nursing pre requisites in the fall. Been looking to my northern neighbor to go to nursing school as they have more accessible nursing program's (Part-Time options.) I know Mass. has a lot of awesome psych hospital's. Curious if any psych nurses on here can give any feedback. On know there is Austin Riggs, Belmont, and the Arbour Health System. I almost took a job two year's ago with Mass State Youth Services, but turned it down. Appreciate any feedback can give.

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My psych unit is low budgeted - we have a hard time getting supplies. One of our best techs went to nursing school & ended up CNA on medsurge in her 2nd semester. She said the first time she went to their supply room she heard angels singing & saw a glow around the supplies --- said it was "like manna from heaven - they had everything I needed to get my job done!!" We have never seen her back on our unit again....... So I will say to you what I said to her when she first started nursing school:

Don't get stuck with a thought that you "have to do psych" -- allow yourself the freedom to learn about all aspects of nursing --- Psych nurse uses ALL aspects of nursing; Medsurge Nurse uses ALL aspects of nursing,,,,,, and so on. Do not limit yourself & allow yourself time to explore the different kinds of nursing --- don't worry if you find out you are more excited about one avenue than the other.........When I was going thru psych clinicals I swore I would never work at a psych facility.......Wouldn't you know -- my first job was psych & I found out this was where I belonged! Just goes to show you, never say never --- & have faith that you will be led to where you should be. Right Nurse for the Right Patient at the Right Time......I believe in this & it has been proven to me time & time again. Good luck!

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^^^^Appreciate the feedback kind of thinking of going CNA, low pay, hopefully can work with my fiance lay bill's. Making $24 an hour as a Tech compared to $14 an hour's as a CNA, but more opportunities to be a CNA. Fiance is finishing nursing school both want to be nurse's, ha. I have worked in the ICU, ER, OR, Radiology, and Psych so far. Loved the ER and Psych. Thinking maybe try my hat out on rehab floor love exercise, nutrition, always did have a blast working alongside the PTs that came up on the psych unit.

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Hey there, WCSU1987,

I'm a mental health worker in Mass starting nursing school this fall. While I love working as a MHW, often times I feel as though they are less appreciated than CNA's are. Were you offered a Tech position in Mass with a $24/hr rate?

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^^^^No that's in Connecticut. It's a part time job. I find psych techs to be a limited field with very few openings. I turned down a job as I said a few year's ago as a You Development Worker with the state of Mass. Was just curious Mass. has from what I can tell, could be wrong, at least 6 part time day/evening program's. Was considering moving to Massachusetts for that reason.

Appreciate the feedback.

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