New grad nurse ICU vs Psych

AbbyUSA, BSN, RN · Jan 9

Hi. I've been doing psych nursing for the last 2.5 years and often wished that I had done some medical nursing to start out. I've been considering switching to a med/surg type unit because I feel really stuck in psych with not having that direct patient care experience and assessment/clinical skills. Psych will always be an option as they are always looking for staff. However, I do regret not taking advantage of a new graduate nursing program since it is much more thorough than what I would get for orientation now if I chose to switch positions. I'm sure you will make the right choice and just remember that no matter what you pick you will always be able to change later on. It might just be more difficult but it's never impossible. Good luck!

Nurse Meg, BSN, RN · Jan 15

I'll share some advice a wise nurse gave me when I first started as a new grad: There's some level of psych in nearly every nursing specialty. In my nursing experiences I've found this to be very true. So, if psych is where your passion lies, you can absolutely keep it in your practice, no matter what specialty you choose.

It's great that you're already mapping out the possibilities for both positions. You mentioned that the ICU role could help you secure other hospital jobs in the future. I'd recommend going back and listing those potential jobs -if they don't excite you or align with your goals, then it may not be the right path. We're past the days when nursing schools told us we had to go into MedSurg or even the hospital first (to be honest). Don't make the decision just because it's the expected route, choose what will truly guide you toward your dream role in nursing.

Think about your "dream job" in nursing and work backward from there. What path will lead you there? Trust your gut and make the choice that aligns with your long-term goals!

subee, MSN, CRNA · Jan 22

AbbyUSA said:

Hi. I've been doing psych nursing for the last 2.5 years and often wished that I had done some medical nursing to start out. I've been considering switching to a med/surg type unit because I feel really stuck in psych with not having that direct patient care experience and assessment/clinical skills. Psych will always be an option as they are always looking for staff. However, I do regret not taking advantage of a new graduate nursing program since it is much more thorough than what I would get for orientation now if I chose to switch positions. I'm sure you will make the right choice and just remember that no matter what you pick you will always be able to change later on. It might just be more difficult but it's never impossible. Good luck!

This is so true. Every psych patient has a medical issue but not every medical patient will have a psych issue.

291tiger · Jan 24

If you're concerned about keeping your options open and building a versatile nursing foundation, the ICU position is the better choice. It provides critical skills, broad hospital experience, and strong career mobility, even if you later choose to return to psych nursing.

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Mar 1

I think the answer really depends on where you want your career to go. Where do you want to be in 5 years? In 10 years?

Its very hard to start in the ICU. This doesn't mean you shouldn't do it, but I think you have to have a strong drive to survive as a new grad in the ICU. If ICU is your passion, where you know you want to be, if you know you want to go on to be a CRNA, or perfusionist, or something else that requires ICU experience, then go that direction.

But you have a bachelor's degree is psychology which leads me to think you may have a different kind of plan for yourself. A psych unit is a great place to start if you want to become a PMHNP.

If it is only that you are concerned about building technical skills, then I think a med surg unit in a good supportive hospital is the best choice.