MS Psychiatric Nursing with no experience?

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Oct 10, 2005

Oh thanks Chris for the encouragement. The problem is that I just had two abdominal surgeries, and I am not able to work now-still recovering. So I thought in the meantime, I could learn online everything I can about Psychiatric Nursing. I was offered psych jobs, but I wanted to take a med surg refresher course first, and I did. Then I needed this abdominal surgery which turned into two surgeries, enormous pain from complications etc. I will eventually be well enough to work. I am thinking that if I get into the master's program, I will learn as much as I can about Psych nursing, and when I am well get a job as a psych. nurse. I can always finish the program while I am working or not finish it if I feel I don't need it. I know I am not qualified to be a psychiatric nurse practitioner! I am kind of insecure, so when I get positive feedback like yours, I start getting all excited that I can do this. I am thinking I would be good at child or adolescent psych or even working as a nurse with people with developmental disabilities. In the job interviews I went to, they were impressed with my teaching experience and my MA and BSN-just a little leery about my lack of strong med surg skills-but they were willing to teach me. Anyway, thanks again for the emotional boost. Take care. Krisssy What kind of psych. nursing do you do?

I'm working as a full time permanent float--weekend doubles--at a freestanding acute care facility which also has a "psych ER," so I get great experience with all our populations and get to know most of the other nurses as well. I haven't found a population I didn't enjoy!

Now I am hoping to get an interview and offer from a well known local teaching hospital to do specialty med/surg (cardiovascular) as well. If I can keep up both jobs I'll have everything I want. (For as long as I can hold out! LOL)

You have a tremendous gift to offer--I hope you'll do some regular staff nursing for a while before you become a psych NP (although I am also interested in that--I'd love it if you shared any info you came up with, especially if it is a nontrad program). And I'm so sorry to hear about the belly pain and complications! I'll bet you recover faster than you could get an MSN done anyway. (Maybe not, some of us are pretty speedy!)

Again, good luck. And don't sell yourself short! There are many nurses who are well thought of who don't have the gifts to offer that you do. I'd love to have you working with us!

healer_energy · Oct 14, 2005

I am in somewhat of the same boat. I am 60 and having completed my MS in Education/Med Surg 10 years ago I am now doing a post graduate track in psych. I am not going to be a NP but a clinical nurse specialist. I have had very little experience in psych nursing except some clinicals. However, I want to do some counseling and working with geriatrics in the nursing homes. I am very experienced in NH work, especially with the Alzheimer's population. And I have been encouraged on more than one occasion that I would be a shoe-in. However I am going to get as much clinical experience as I can get and I do feel that working with demented people has given me great skills in observation, intuitive interacting and so on.

At first it was intimidating in class because almost everyone there has a psych back ground but everytime I spoke up with my opinion and comments, it seemed that I had said something intelligent. And I could mostly get what they were saying once I had them translate some of the language.

I also think that maturity and experience do mean a lot having taught students in nursing of many ages.

So... go for it.

Sonya

krisssy · Oct 15, 2005

Thank you all for your encouragement. My thought, which I am sure is non traditional in itself lol, is that I will take courses online towards my MS in Psych. while I am recovering. They can't hurt, and I will learn. Then when I am well, I will look for a part time job as a psych staff nurse and continue the online program. If I become a nurse practitioner, that is ok, and if I stay a staff nurse, that is ok too. The idea is that I will be helping a population that I believe needs people with my personality and empathy. I know there is a lot more to it, but I am willing to learn. My hope is that I get a good preceptor. My last preceptor in med surg was a disaster and taught me nothing. Next time around, I will check all that out in advance before taking a job. Anyway, my deadline for my application is Nov. first, so I have to definitely write my essay and check that my grades have been sent from various colleges. That is my job for this week. Then all I have to do it wait. I sent the initial application in, and they said an advisor would call me within 7 days. I will keep you all informed. The energy healing sounds wonderful. I would love to know more about that. Chris, if I lived in your area, I would definitely LOVE to have you precept me. I believe that all new nurses need is a good teacher and encouragement from a preceptor, and they will do fine. Unfortunately, as shown on this web site, we are all not lucky enough to get someone like you Chris to precept us and encourage our strong points and teach us our weak ones. As a former teacher, I know that building up another person's self esteem and being positive are elementary to being a good teacher. Just because someone is a good nurse doesn't always make them a good teacher. Going off on a tangent here lol Thanks everyone Krisssy

SMW-RN · Oct 21, 2005

I am in a very similar situation as you are and I greatly appreciate your post and the responses that you have gotten. I am in my early 50" and was worried about my age so you are an inspiration! I have been out of nursing for a long time--20 years, but I took a refresher and got my license back. I have worked in a nursing home part time as I have a full time job in my other profession and didnt want to lose the good pay and benefits while I wanted to go to school. I have started an MA in nursing and I fully enjoy it. I have also been volunteering at a crisis line for the last year--this experience has made a world of difference for me in my life! It has inspired to turn toward psych. We take calls for people in various types of crisis--suicidal, grieving, cutting, drinking, abusing, abused to shelters, need help with kidspeople with all sorts of long term mental illness. The program had a training component that really focused on communication skills and community resources. Like I said, it made s big difference in my life. My communication skills have greatly improved as has my patience with people I work with and others in my life--Im better able to stand back and see situations rather than just reacting. This might be something you could do to get some experience. The place where I volunteer has interns completing their practicums to obtain the MA and counseling licenses.

I have been trying to figure out what I want to do now with this new focus--do I stay in my generic nursing program and focus on psych? Do I get an MA in counseling and work in this realm? Do I try to get a CNS or NP in psych? All of these things are rolling around in my head now! I will need to continue working my other profession job but have found 2 programs accessible to me that have online components or are all online except for the clinical. I learned about this program through the graduate nursing program that I am attending. The program is at Rush University. It does require that students go to Chicago once per year and the program has full time and part time options. This is very attractive to me due to the convenience, but the interaction between others in class is also helpful. I havent looked into the status of the program as far as licensure.

One psychologist really encouraged me to get the CNS as they are really needed in the state where I live, especially if the can prescribe. He says there are very few psychiatrists in my state. I go back and forth on this. The thing that started me down this path is my volunteer work and I find that I enjoy is the interaction and helping relationship. This tells me that maybe I should take the counselor approach--there are 4 programs in my area that cater to getting your degree around working full time--they are expensive, but this effort would take much less than a CNS.

I also have no recent experience in psych nursing, but have just applied for a part time job in a long term residential facility for the mentally ill. They were a little skeptical, but are checking out my references. My point is the this might be another alternative to getting some experience. If it works out for me, I expect it will be really helpful in my decision making, etc. As of now, I think Im going to apply to all the different types of programs, while I try to make my decisions.

The main reason that Im writing is that it is wonderful to hear from someone in a similar situation. I know one of the posts said that not having psych experience could be a problem. I have started back to nursing from a very different profession and I have found that my volunteer job and part time work have opened up the nursing part of my brain--it is incredble to have that knowledge return--those innate skills that nurses develop! I also have noted that my older age and experience contribute very much to my ability to listen and make decisions. At the crisis line where I volunteer, it seems like I can often identify with more people than the younger volunteers many times as I have gone thru many of the types of things that they are confronting. It just what happens with time. I also learn from the younger staff as theywork with the callers. My point is that the life experience that we have and good communication skills go a long way in nursing anytime, but I bet especially in psych.

I wish you well with your plan! I find the field of psych needs people that have a strong interest and once you get the bug its very compelling! Im so excited to have a new goal that is so exciting. As I keep discussing this with others, I get more support and ideas.

Sheila

krisssy · Nov 18, 2005

Thank you for everyone who has encouraged me to do this. I just got accepted into graduate school, and I start this winter. I am very excited. I have given this so much thought, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to meet my goals of helping people and getting all the experience I need to do it. I may work as a psychiatric nurse while I am doing this program, as many of you had advised. I will start with one course and see where it takes me. I never in a million years thought I would ever be going back to my original career of nursing. At this stage of my life, I believe that I am truly ready to be a nurse. My willingness to listen and learn is definitely an asset. All I know is that with everything that has happened to me in my life, whenever I think of going back to school for nursing, I feel happy and motivated. What could be wrong with that? I am also mature enough to know that I will get all the clinical experience I need before taking a job as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. But when I do start working as a psychiatric nurse or nurse practitioner, I will dedicate myself completely to my patients just as I did to my students in my previous career. Thank you all at allnurses.com for listening to me! krissy:)

krisssy · Nov 18, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by dthfytr

I've struggled with major depression all my life, didn't know it till I was 50. Caused me and others lots of heartache. Finally found a counselor and psychiatrist who saw it and got me straitened out. I'm on several meds for major depression, doing really well career wise. Biggest help came when counselor had me write up a start to finish ER chart of myself as a 5 year old. Only then did I see that if this were real, I'd be required to call the police on the (my) father. Suddenly my entire life came into clear perspective.

I've been in nursing over 20 years, and often told patients that a broken heart hurts as much as a broken arm. A broken arm is just easier to see, and thus treat.

Nurses struggling with mental illness? Who says we can be better than mere mortals? EVERYBODY IS CRAZY! Only a few of us get caught! My struggles made me a better nurse. This meant better care for my patients, and this made for a better world.

You rock, dthfytr!

especially love this....

Quote:

Stay away from any nurse that says they've never been sick.

Charlie, your comment about avoiding "crazies" in nursing has bothered me for a long time. I thought it was a rather judgemental comment, but I didn't know how to respond until I read this. We are not here to judge-our patients or our fellow nurses Krisssy

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Nov 19, 2005

Krisssy, congrats to you. Do not judge Charlie too harshly (which I think you don't) or burden your heart. However, there is some truth in it. You will see this first hand as you go through your schooling and eventually become a practitioner.

Some nurses have issues who are in denial.

Some have issues and are working through them.

Some, like any specialty of nursing, probably shouldn't be practicing and have went into the specialty for the wrong reasons even with good intentions.

Some simply need to take a sabbatical, then return...but don't.

Some will crash and burn before your eyes.

And yes, you will see some outstanding nurses with and without concurrent issues.

We are all human. We all are vulnerable...some more so than others. You will see it for yourself. And, you will also see it in yourself...psych does this. Actually, that is a good thing.

Wish you the best.

krisssy · Nov 19, 2005

Oh thank you thank you Wolfie. You always say the truth. Boy would I love to be mentored by you. lol I have just finished reading Echo Heron's first book about herself as a nurse. It was a great example of a fantastic nurse going through so many personal issues and emotional problems. As you said, nurses are just human beings like anyone else.:), and as you also said, which I agree with so much, we all have our own vulnerabilities and our own strengths. If we weren't all different, we would be a bunch of robots. I AM vulnerable, and I did take what Charlie said to heart. But I am trying to develop a thicker skin which I know I will need when I return to work as a nurse. When I took my refresher course, a nursing assistant yelled at me, and it made me cry. OH BOY NOT GOOD AT ALL! Thanks for always sharing your maturity and wisdom with an added sense of empathy. Your posts have taught me a lot. And dear Charlie, as long as you admit that you have issues like everyone else and that just because a nurse practitioner wasn't a psych nurse first doesn't mean they are "A crazy", you're ok with me. Sincerely, Krisssy RN MA:nurse:

krisssy · Dec 10, 2005

Do you mind if I ask what online grad program you are talking about?
Best of luck to you, you can do it:)

The University of Missouri-Columbia-Sinclair School of Nursing