PMHNP: Pedi vs Adult vs Gero-Lifestyle?

[wnabanrs]

I'm halfway through my psych NP (PMHNP) program, and currently trying to decide on my clinical placement for the duration of my final year. I'm really stuck! My choices basically boil down to either adult or pedi in either acute or outpatient settings. In terms of long-term career flexibility, is it easier to graduate w/ heavy adult experience and transition into pediatric treatment; or graduate with heavy pedi experience and transition into adult care. Ultimately, I'd like to treat medically complex lifespan in my day to day work. Those of you in the field what are your thoughts?

Pushing my luck on this one, but for those of you in psych peds are you able to keep normal business hours (weekday 8-5) or do you find that you have to work after hours and weekends too?

[Psychcns]

Very difficult question! What do your professors think?? I have worked mostly outpatient with adults as a provider and have a lot of inpt RN experience. I have limited experience with children

-I think inpatient adult is the most basic and you would learn the most about diagnoses and psychopharm

- if you really want to see kids then get kid training. Kids are very different. I have seen some kids outpatient. I liked working with parents and the family and there are less medication options for kids. Interviewing children is. different from interviewing adults but I think if you are trained with adults you have a good foundation.

-adult outpatient is interesting because you have to diagnose and treat quickly and I like working with therapists in multidisciplinary situations

-pedi outpatient you would work with schools, child protective services etc

In the past child/adolescent was its own psych specialty.

These are some beginning thoughts. Hope more respond.

Also, if you do pedi psych you could easily find 9-5. I do adult locum tenens and all my jobs have been 9-5. Pedi is most in demand. At least that's what it looks like.