New grads psych nursing

elkpark · Jul 8, 2014

If you can talk someone into hiring you, sure. Whether or not it's a good idea is another discussion. But lots of people have posted here that their first job out of school was in psych. Lots of psych facilities and units are willing to hire new grads (because the pool of experienced psych nurses is fairly small).

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 8, 2014

Yes. But it's a steep learning curve.

bonita77RN · Jul 8, 2014

One of the first jobs offered to me as a new grad was at a hospital in the Gero/Psych unit.

Mr. Murse · Jul 9, 2014

I know a new grad that just finished and is going to a psych facility in the next month or so. I don't think as a whole it's much more challenging to get a psych job than a med/surg job.

Now, I would suggest you consider the implications it may have on your nursing career. I've heard it said many times over that starting in psych is a bad idea unless you are positive that it is what you want to do long term. Not that it's impossible to get out of psych once you're in, but it makes it more difficult. For one thing, you have never had a chance to really hone your clinical nursing skills like starting IV's, working with tubes and drains, patient care machinery, and all the other stuff you see in med/surg that you rarely may ever see in a psych facility. You will get out of school and never get a chance to really put into practice all the stuff you learned outside of the psych world. Then should you ever get tired and want to move back into med/surg it will be like starting all over.

It is usually advised to start on med/surg and get some clinical experience with a wide variety of patients because once you pigeonhole yourself it's hard to get out, and don't worry, you will find that most med/surg patients are also psych patients anyway. ha.

Just something to consider.

auniquebeing · Jul 12, 2014

I went straight into psych as a new grad because of connections. Its fun for the first few months but then iy becomes a little overwhelming mentally.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Jul 18, 2014

I was hired as a new grad to work in inpatient psych. They just hired another new grad. It's an interesting niche--not for everyone, but I like it.

Davey Do · Jul 18, 2014

Now, I would suggest you consider the implications it may have on your nursing career. I've heard it said many times over that starting in psych is a bad idea unless you are positive that it is what you want to do long term. Not that it's impossible to get out of psych once you're in, but it makes it more difficult. For one thing, you have never had a chance to really hone your clinical nursing skills like starting IV's, working with tubes and drains, patient care machinery, and all the other stuff you see in med/surg that you rarely may ever see in a psych facility.

This may be True, and I don't think that I am an Exception to the Rule but... my first Nursing Job was in Psych as an LPN where I stayed for 2 1/2 years and went on to also work OR, CD, become an RN and again work OR, Med-Surg, ER, Home Health and Administration x2.

I was determined, bigod, that I was going to work as many Facets of Nursing possible and I Believe my Track Record shows that.

I believe if Anyone is Determined Enough they can work Anywhere they Wish.

Mr. Murse · Jul 19, 2014

This may be True, and I don't think that I am an Exception to the Rule but... my first Nursing Job was in Psych as an LPN where I stayed for 2 1/2 years and went on to also work OR, CD, become an RN and again work OR, Med-Surg, ER, Home Health and Administration x2.
I was determined, bigod, that I was going to work as many Facets of Nursing possible and I Believe my Track Record shows that.
I believe if Anyone is Determined Enough they can work Anywhere they Wish.

Yeah, as I said, it's not impossible to transition but probably a lot easier to go from med/surg to psych than the other way.

When you think about it, in med/surg nursing, half your patients are psych cases anyway.

MidLifeRN2012 · Jul 19, 2014

After 2 years of job searching after graduation, it was inpatient psych that called me and was willing to hire me. Not med/surg. They all wanted experience

Sometimes you don't get to choose your first 'niche'

tmbeede · Aug 29, 2014

It really depends on where you are looking. Most hospitals require at least 1 year on Med/Surg. I know my facility, St. Alexius Medical Center (www.st.alexius.org) hires new grads in psych! We seem to be one of the few though :)