new grad with a psych degree, but no experience

sourapril · Oct 23, 2015

I would just apply. If the job description sounds like something you can do, go for it. How can you get experience when nobody wants to hire you? You should apply everywhere, mental hospital, psych units in a hospital, VA, behavioral health center, etc.

heynow1313 · Oct 23, 2015

thanks. I appreciate the sound advice.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Oct 23, 2015

I think your psych degree might put you a step ahead of some others for hiring.

Apply! Talk to people who are in it. Network.

My first nursing job was in psych nursing, with no experience other than nursing school clinicals. I talked with the unit director there, told her my wish, and she hired me.

You can't be hired if you don't apply!

heynow1313 · Oct 23, 2015

Thank you for the vote of confidence. I feel inspired after hearing you were hired as a new grad. Thanks!

blackribbon · Oct 24, 2015

Apply anyway. There is a shortage of nurses who actually like psych nursing. I am a med/surg nurse and was hired for a position that listed two years clinical experience. At the time, I had 5 months. At one hospital, I was cross trained for the psych floor because I was interested and willing to float to that unit...and they had a need. At the second hospital, my nurse administrator perked up when she heard I had a little experience in psych and wanted to know if I would be willing to float at this hospital too. Apply to any position you are interested in...even if you are not officially qualified. One of my psych nursing classmates was working as charge nurse at her psych only specialty hospital within a month of getting hired. There is a need.

heynow1313 · Oct 24, 2015

WOW this is making me feel so much more hopeful. Much thanks!

nurse lala, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2015

My experience reflects the sound advice posted by my colleagues. As a new grad, way back in 1986, every hospital wanted RNs with a years' experience. I worked as a CNA through the registry while I waited for that first RN job offer. I wanted to work in Spinal Cord Injury or a cardiac unit. I had no mental health experience and in fact found MH to be the most difficult rotation in my studies and I barely passed.

One of the hospitals that always needed a CNA was the psych hospital. I worked on the locked adolescent unit for several weeks. It was pretty intimidating back in the day. We had two restraint rooms that were rarely empty on a 12 bed unit. The facility hired me when they learned I had an RN degree. And put me in charge. The facility invested in me because they saw my strengths despite my lack of experience.

You have an edge with the degree in psychology. Now apply for the jobs and be confident you will make this yours.

heynow1313 · Oct 25, 2015

thank you nurse lala!

Psych77 · Nov 4, 2015

I also graduated in'12, and have a psychology ba. I decided to accept a low paying home health job that paid 16 an hour...really an Lpn position, while applying for jobs....1 month later got a call from the psych hospital for an interview. They didn't ask me a single question, just told me about the job. I think they needed people. But it helps to be working already...I was even working nights on that first job, which I hated. Yea, a lot of nurses don't like psych so there seems to be openings often times.

Mplsnurse · Nov 5, 2015

I was hired as night charge right out of nursing school. I love psych. It's my "home". No way was I doing a year in med surg. When you know what you want you know what you want:) the psych unit I'm on now just hired a brand new 20 yr old nurse. Keep looking. Good luck. Oh, also your current home care with an Alzheimer's patient IS psych. Work on your resume, pull out all the key psych terms you can. You provide safety, you work one on one, you reorient frequently, you show patience and encourage, you educate (frequently) what medicine is for and why it's needed. Sounds like a psych nurse;)

heynow1313 · Nov 6, 2015

ohmygod when you put it that way-about my ALZ patient- you're totally right. I never looked at it like that but it's true. Thanks a lot for your advice. Totally appreciate it and am encouraged by it!