mryabird

Psych clinicals in school were boring as heck! It's a sad truth. As students you can't do much, you aren't given much direction and it as awkward as all get out. Honestly, after my psych rotation I had no clue what a psych nurse even did. However, I still ended up in psych despite my largely awkward and boring clinical experience. I work on a pediatric inpatient unit and it keeps me busy. Lots of de-esclation to be done and home-sick kiddos to soothe. I savor the precious moments that do get boring because it is a sign that the kids are all participating in treatment and doing well. I do agree with the sentiment that you can choose to make it boring. There are plenty of nurses who spend little time interacting in the milieu. The more time you spend with your patients the less boring it is. Sometimes, however, no matter how much you try and be boring the "excitement" finds you anyway.

I started last august and make 27/hr on a pediatric inpatient unit. The state run facility in the same city starts at 30/hr. So clearly even within the same city there is variation.