pre-psychiatric nursing experience

fergus51 · Jan 23, 2001

Have you looked into volunteering? Most medium size towns have some sort of resources for those with mental illnesses like a drop in center or a suicide prevention call line or computer training, whatever! Ask at the psych hospital, they should be able to refer you. Many of these places will train their volunteers and you only have to commit to a few hours a week so you'll still have time to study. I have to go to the psych ward today and I have to say the patients are some of the best in the whole hospital.

psychnurse01 · Jan 29, 2001

Originally posted by rjay:
I'm a nursing student in Australia and I really would like to do psychiatric nursing. I want to get some experience before I start to improve my empolyment chances. Lot's of psychiatric hospitals won't take people unless they are qualified. Does anyone know of any jobs that are related to psych that a student nurse could get and still have time to study as well? Please help if you can.

Have you tried to get a position as a therapy aide? The money is not that good but the experience is incredable. Working that closely with the patient is a great way of determining wether psych is for you. Good Luck!!!

marilyn crisp · Jan 30, 2001

Being a therapy aid is the way to go I believe.I kind of fell into such a job when I was in nursing school and found that I really loved it. When I completed my RN program I was hired as a result of my experience as an aid. I think psych is something you love or hate-personally there were days I ALMOST felt guilty that I was getting paid!!! It's not easy but you learn alot about yourself and how to handle lots of situations by using your head instead of your hands. These skills are important regardless of the area of nursing you end up in. Lots of patients problems cannot be addressed with an enema or a dose of antibiotics or a dressing change but knowing how to listen well and give support can make all the difference for any patient. Good luck!

Originally posted by rjay:
I'm a nursing student in Australia and I really would like to do psychiatric nursing. I want to get some experience before I start to improve my empolyment chances. Lot's of psychiatric hospitals won't take people unless they are qualified. Does anyone know of any jobs that are related to psych that a student nurse could get and still have time to study as well? Please help if you can.