New grad - should I go right into psych???

stevenking, BSN, LPN, RN, EMT-B · Nov 4, 2005

I decided before I even started nursing school that I wanted to be a psych nurse. I am hearing impaired and find Med/Surg very overwhelming noisewise and as much as I have an amplified stethoscope, it is taking it's told pulling the aids out and telling the patient that I can't hear them when they are out. It is very stressful, and I fear one of these days, pulling the aids out as much as I have to on a Med/Surg unit that I am going to lose them. My psych rotation was wonderful. My hearing aids stayed in and the floor was basically very quiet. The patients and staff were great. There is a psych hospital near my home that offers programs for new grads, with outstanding results!!! I'd like to hear from "seasoned" nurses as to whether they feel a year or 2 in med/surg is warranted in being a psych nurse. With the shortage, I was told by my instructors that the sky is the limit in nursing, and we don't need to "pay our dues" in Med/Surg before we go on to a speciality. I am also 50 years old, not too old, but also not very young!

Always need psych nurses...more power to ya sister!

twigloo · Nov 4, 2005

Hi

I am also 50 years old and graduating in april/06 with a BSN. Where are you located? I am from Canada and like psyche nursing as well. I can live anywhere in the States so that isn't a problem but want to hook up with a good hospital to start......any suggestions?

elkpark · Nov 4, 2005

There are several older threads here where that question has been discussed at length -- you could search and review them, and get a lot of opinions about the pros and cons.

Best wishes for your education and future!

SFCardiacRN · Nov 5, 2005

Go for it!! I loved my psych rotation in school and considered it before going to the OR. Med-surg is not a pre-req for psych. The new grad program will teach you all you need to know. That's why they are called new-grad programs!

spunkymunkey · Nov 8, 2005

To Twigloo:

I am from Massachusetts. McLean Hospital is one of the country's finest psychiatric hospitals. It is a teaching hospital affiliated with Harvard University. Here is their website www.mclean.harvard.edu. Good luck to you!

:nurse:

jen42 · Nov 9, 2005

Go for it. If you decide you want to do med-surg later, there's enough of a shortage that some hospital will train you well. For now, why not do what you love?

nypsychnurse · Nov 13, 2005

I am also a hearing impaired nurse. I went right into psych from nursing school 12 years ago and never regretted it. Good Luck!

Brainyheart · Jun 10, 2006

Here's my plan...

I am starting my second year in an ASN program (will grad May 07 if all goes well), and I am seriously considering going right on (while working as a new nurse) to an MSN program that's newly opening a CNS component starting in September. I'm thinking now that I'd like to do burns/wounds...Anyone out there who has done something similar and can share pros/cons? Or any other considered opinions? Thanks for sharing...it's great to have input from folks who love the profession and can help each other out.

Brainyheart · Jun 10, 2006

OOPS! Just realized that I may have posted in the wrong place...should this have been a new thread? I apologize.

BCzito · Jul 25, 2006

To Twigloo:
I am from Massachusetts. McLean Hospital is one of the country's finest psychiatric hospitals. It is a teaching hospital affiliated with Harvard University. Here is their website www.mclean.harvard.edu. Good luck to you!

I did my synthesis at McLeans its an awesome hospital and the role of the nurse there seems very valued. I loved every minute of it. The only downside is the hospital has lower pay than surrounding hospitals... however despite that none of the nurses ever want to leave... so...

plasticsnrs · Jan 10, 2007

I went straight into L&D after nursing school, then high risk L&D for 7 years. Not until I moved to a small hospital doing OR did I branch out and discover all the many talents I possessed. There I learned conscious sedation, Pacu, Outpatient, and endoscopy, as well as circulating. Now I am doing plastics, which I love! Keep an open mind, there is so much to learn.