New Graduate RN Programs For Mental Health

[Junkyfitfood Cow]

Hey everyone,

I am a new graduate nurse and was wondering if you guys knew of any hospitals that offer new grad mental health programs. I would like to go into adolescent behavioral health. I can't find any programs around me. I live in California, so if any of you guys know of any programs let me know. Thank you so much!

[brownbook]

Get your foot in the door in some area of psychiatric nursing. It may not be adolescent health. Get a few months, years, experience under you belt. Then search for adolescent behavioral health units. You may have to move to where those jobs are.

I don't know if there is any specific new grad mental health program. You would just get a similar orientation to the psych unit as a new grad would get to a med/surg unit.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

What part of California are you in?

[verene, MSN]

Get your foot in the door at any psychiatric, corrections or addictions/detox facility - having experience in any of these specialties will likely help open doors down the road in mental health nursing. Many jobs do NOT require previous psychiatric or nursing experience and will train on the job.

Alternatively apply to hospital systems with new grad residencies that also have inpatient psychiatric units -and see if they allow residency placement in psychiatric nursing (many do). You may have to consider moving for one of these jobs. I can think of several hospitals in both Oregon and Washington who do allow new graduates to complete residency placement in inpatient psychiatric nursing (both child/adolescent and adult) so broaden your search and keep an eye out for openings.

[ivyleaf]

Yes but im not familiar w CA. In MA facilities will often take new grads into psych since there is such a need and most folks want to go into med/surg.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

Again what part of California are you in Aurora behavioral hospital's hire new grads!