Per diem in a psychiatric hospital

[pinkiepie_RN]

Hello to all! I am a second semester junior nursing student looking for nursing experience and I have just been offered a CNA-type job (official title of mental health worker) per diem in a local psychiatric facility that has the following units:Adult Crisis Stabilization, Adult Short Term Treatment and Addictions, Young Adult, Eating Disorders, Psychotic Disorders, Trauma Disorders, Geriatric, Child, Adolescent Crisis Stabilization, and Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit. I am going to go through orientation for two days on each other individual units and then I will be allowed to self schedule for whichever units have staffing needs.

I have a minor in psychology but no one particular place where I want to go the most in the hospital. Can anyone out there offer me some recommendations as to what would be a good place for me to start? Also do you have any advice for someone just starting out or does anyone else out there do per diem psych nursing that can offer some insight? Thanks!

[RN2begin]

Actually, the orientation that you have sounds fantastic. You will be able to "sample" all of the units and then make your per diem decisions accordingly. I have a BA in psych and actually started as a mental health worker prior to nursing school. Our orientation was long and completely unrealistic. We did not actually go to our pre-assigned units until the third week of 40 hr/wk classroom orientation. I worked an admission unit for two years, but often had to "float" to other units where I knew little, if anything about how the other units were run.

My advice would be to experience each unit with an open mind. When you find the niche you want you will know it. GOOD LUCK!

[medsurgrnco, BSN, RN]

The geriatric unit will give you more exposure to medical problems. But all the units will give you great experience.

[pinkiepie_RN]

Actually, the orientation that you have sounds fantastic. You will be able to "sample" all of the units and then make your per diem decisions accordingly. I have a BA in psych and actually started as a mental health worker prior to nursing school. Our orientation was long and completely unrealistic. We did not actually go to our pre-assigned units until the third week of 40 hr/wk classroom orientation. I worked an admission unit for two years, but often had to "float" to other units where I knew little, if anything about how the other units were run.

My advice would be to experience each unit with an open mind. When you find the niche you want you will know it. GOOD LUCK!

Tell me about classroom orientation. My recruiter told me that because I'm a nursing student and have my CNA, the 8 hour a day x 5 days classroom orientation will be mainly review for me. What did you learn in the classroom?

[RN2begin]

I learned nothing but obligatory CYA stuff mandated by the state. For example, we had a whole hour of "Diversity" training. Granted, some of the material was interesting, but not at all realistic. When I filled out my evaluation at the end I stated that starting out, even just one day a week,on a unit would so much more helpful. The adjustment wasn't terrifying for me as I had previously done 3 years of case management with severely mentally ill individuals...but for some people who had little or no background in psych, didn't make it through their first week when they were sent to their unit...after three weeks of classroom "preparation"...I know that I must sound a bit cynical. I love my work but continue to be amazed at the disconnect between the "front-line" care providers and the administration who make the rules from their third floor offices.

You won't be missing anything. Your best education will be on the unit.