New grad eager for new psych position

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Hi everyone,

I am a sort of new grad (summer 2013) who after a long search and unpaid bills has finally been able to land an RN job in psych.

I applied back in October only to be immediately turned down. 4 months later a new position opened at this same facility and decided to give it another shot with my volunteer experience and BSN in progress status to help me, I got a job offer last week. Of course, I eagerly accepted!

The only hospital experience I have is as a nursing assistant in peds, but I have always had a special place in my heart for psych. The facility is acute care, 187 beds, and very close to home. The pay is fantastic, full time, full benefits. Long story short I want to be the best nurse that I can be here.

If anyone here can offer me any guidance, tips, advice, don't, etcetera, I would be VERY grateful! I will be brushing up on all my psych stuff in the next 2 weeks until orientation starts. But some real-life encouraging words would be amazing. I want to give them 100% of everything that I can and look forward to a long and rewarding career

Thanks guys

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Also if anyone knows any good phone apps or websites that may be helpful within the specialty, that would be great. After I'm in the swing of things (and have the $) I'd like to join APNA to keep current and all that, but other places with helpful resources would be great to know of :)

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Congratulations on your recent hiring, jmiraRN!

The best way to get what you asked for, "any guidance, tips, advice, don't, etcetera" would be to do a Search on this Forum or just Scroll Down and check out past discussions.

There was a good discussion on violence recently:

https://allnurses.com/psychiatric-nursing/how-often-do-905870.html

or, if you're wondering how to dress for Psych Nursing:

https://allnurses.com/psychiatric-nursing/how-dress-psychiatric-902973.html

it's all here! Just do some perusing!

Good luck to you in your new position!

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Like the OP I also just got hired as a new grad in psych but I have no hospital experience other than school clinicals. I have a month to prepare myself before I start

Are there any 'must haves' that a new psych RN should have with them besides their stethoscope ? Are there psych nursing helps to always have on hand besides maybe a drug book ?

I'm thankful, scared and exited at the same time :)

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Specializes in Psych. Violence & Suicide prevention..
Are there any 'must haves' that a new psych RN should have with them besides their stethoscope ? Are there psych nursing helps to always have on hand besides maybe a drug book ?

The drug book is still a tool I use every day.

I recommend only two things: Always carry an acme thunderer (whistle) on your key ring in case you are in a situation you cannot leave and need assistance. And second, if you aren't fit, start exercising. If you are fit, don't stop. You will never regret having strength and endurance on the job, and the mental health benefits of regular exercise make it all worth while.

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Thanks Nurse Lala :) I am told by the nursing manager that everyone wears a panic alarm on their wrists in case of an emergency.

And good point about exercise. I'm starting that now, but will have to relearn a whole new day lifestyle since most everything I have ever done has been in the evening because of working 9-5 for 25 years.

:)

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Congratulations on your recent hiring, jmiraRN!

The best way to get what you asked for, "any guidance, tips, advice, don't, etcetera" would be to do a Search on this Forum or just Scroll Down and check out past discussions.

There was a good discussion on violence recently:

https://allnurses.com/psychiatric-nursing/how-often-do-905870.html

or, if you're wondering how to dress for Psych Nursing:

https://allnurses.com/psychiatric-nursing/how-dress-psychiatric-902973.html

it's all here! Just do some perusing!

Good luck to you in your new position!

Thank you Davey Do! I've been doing a lot of fine combing through the psych threads to take notes on everything that I can. Thanks for the reply, you're one of those I was hoping would reply :up:

Doing all I can to get off to a strong start, thanking my stars that 2 of the other new hires with me are new grads too!

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A whistle and upping my current exercise routine dually noted. Great tips!

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Like the OP I also just got hired as a new grad in psych but I have no hospital experience other than school clinicals. I have a month to prepare myself before I start

Are there any 'must haves' that a new psych RN should have with them besides their stethoscope ? Are there psych nursing helps to always have on hand besides maybe a drug book ?

I'm thankful, scared and exited at the same time :)

Congrats fgreen! I posted in your interview thread so i'm really happy to hear you got the position!! I was recommended to get the Psychiatric Nursing Made Easy book ($10 used on Amazon) and the pocket guide for psych nurses ($29 @ B&N). I've also opted to get Nikes rather than nursing shows in the name of safety. I'm start orientation in 9 days so I will try to keep you posted with any good info I find out. Maybe we can keep in touch here on AN and support each other in this brave new world :)

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Hey thanks jmiraRN :). Congrats to you too and thanks for the tips. I just bought a pocket drug book and I'll look into the others you mentioned Absolutely we can stay in touch and support each other. That would be wonderful :)

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
Are there any 'must haves' that a new psych RN should have with them besides their stethoscope ? Are there psych nursing helps to always have on hand besides maybe a drug book ?

I'm thankful, scared and exited at the same time

You're in a good place, then, fgreen. A little anxiety is a great motivator.

And outstanding and excellent advice from nurse lala!

The drug book is still a tool I use every day.

I recommend only two things: Always carry an acme thunderer (whistle) on your key ring in case you are in a situation you cannot leave and need assistance. And second, if you aren't fit, start exercising. If you are fit, don't stop. You will never regret having strength and endurance on the job, and the mental health benefits of regular exercise make it all worth while.

I would add to nurse lala's advice that you flip through the DSM IV and learn the symptoms of what makes up a diagnosis for the major ones... MDD, Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Psychosis nos, Personality D/O, etc.

And remember this: These Patients are Mentally Ill, so expect unusual behavior from them!

It never ceases to amaze me at how seasoned Nurses will talk about Patients' behaviors as if the Patient should know better than to do something like the behavior they exhibit!

I will often comment on those Nurses' statements with something like: "Wow. They act as though they were Mentally Ill! Go figure!"

Good luck to you fgreen!

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Specializes in Psych. Violence & Suicide prevention..

I am told by the nursing manager that everyone wears a panic alarm on their wrists in case of an emergency.

The downside to some of the panic alarms is that they do not emit a sound. There is usually a centralized monitor that indicates someone needs help, but exact location the help is needed is not provided, just an area such as a unit or wing of a building. A whistle provides guidance to where the help in needed. And it does not rely on electronics or batteries which fail. A whistle, when you are providing pressure on a wound or are helping a colleague handle a patient comes in handy, as a personal back-up system.

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