New grad with psych job offer

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Specializes in Geriatric.

So psych is my favorite aspect of nursing. Mental health is easy for me because I live it everyday. I was offered an LPN job on an adult psych ward. I really want to say yes but I know the turn over rate is unbelievably high. I'm just curious as to why psych nurses have such a high turnover rate. I understand not all areas of nursing are for everyone. It just makes me apprehensive to take the job. On one hand I absolutely love mental health and I have excellent knowledge of the subject matter but on the other I am a bit scared.

Can I get some insight as to what psych nurses do? Why is there a high turnover rate? What's a normal day like?

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The psych hospital I work at does not have a high turnover rate. Maybe you should do some more looking around.

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I also love mental health! That is my calling! It is encouraging to know that you are a new grad and received a job offer, that gives me hope too. I hope that things work out for you!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

I'm a new grad LVN working in patient psych. I really like it...much better than 1st job at an ALF.

My day varies based on the shift I'm working. My place does have 54:1 resident to nurse ratios, but is well organized and has 1 FT nurse whose job is more admin/paperwork/dealing with Drs, so the work load is manageable.

Our AM shift has a small med pass at 7 and 12 and a big one at noon.

PM has 2 big med passes at 5 and 9pm. Those passes take up most of my shift, but the more experienced nurses get them done with lots of time to spare.

Nights has a small med pass plus a decent amount of finger sticks right before shift change.

All of us do our own treatments, but there aren't many.

I really like the residents, even though some call me racial slurs and get in physical fights with each other and yell and throw things.

I feel like I'm getting a good taste of nursing...I do PPD's, treatments, IMs, patient teaching, therapeutic communication, redirection, charting, deal with doctors, take and note and implement new orders every day.

I love it!

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