cherubhipster

Hello friends, I'm at the very cusp of my MSN program. I originally was accepted to school to become a PMHNP, but lately I have bee considering a MSN in nursing ed instead, for a variety of reasons. I have a particular concern that I could use some feedback in. How is a career as an educator (with an MSN, the phd will have to wait for now!) while raising a young family? I am recently married and going to start a family soon, and I really need a career that will give me a good work/life balance. I have a friend who teaches at a community college (not nursing) FT, and her FT is equivalent to 15 hours/week at the school. Is teaching nursing the same way? I really appreciate any feedback and I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

I would love some opinions! I'm talking about starting a family with my husband, and I have been trying to do some research.. What do you think is better for raising young children (infant-5 y/o): FT mon-fri no holidays or weekends OR 12 hour shifts? Any other thoughts? opinions? How have you maintained a balance between work and family?

Hello friends! My latest job is working for an insurance company as a utilization management RN. My job essentially consists of working in the field and assessing members for home care potential and medical day care appropriateness, then conducting the authorizations and paperwork that goes along with my decision. This is my first job out of direct patient care. It is so much better than working bedside but thEre are still some cons to it if course. I'm wondrering if I would like CM better but I feel like I dont have a good grasp of what it entails. Ive asked some coworkers who are CM but they arent very specific. From what they say its mostly phone calls with education for members and filling out questionaires to determine level of care. Is there more to it? Have any of you worked in both? Do you like one better than the other? Why? Please excuse any typos! (New phone and I'm still figuring it out) Thanks everyone!!!

Hello friends! Here is my situation: I work on a voluntary psych unit- FT days 8 hour shifts. I just got married, and I could be eligible for health benefits through my husband's job. I have an opportunity to work in another hospital system (a really big employer) as a PD RN on their 3 psych units- voluntary, involuntary, and adolescent. Requirement is a mere 2 weekend shifts per month. I can't work FT at my current hospital and PD at the other one r/t orientation requirements at the new job, I just wouldn't be able to get the time off from the current one to attend. I have been day dreaming of PD work for a while now. I have a romantic vision as a hired gun psych nurse, roaming from unit to unit, healing the mentally ill. I could downgrade at my current job to PD and work PD in both hospital units. I figure surely I'll be able to collect the hours/pay I need by having 2 hospitals to work for. I wouldn't have to work so many pesky weekends. I could double up on shifts and have 16 hour days to get extra days off, instead of my dreaded 5 day work week. I would greatly expand my psych nursing experience by working on those various units in the new hospital. and I would make $10 an hour more!!! But am I insane to give up my stable FT job with PTO, benefits, maternity leave, etc, especially in this economy? I've heard all about the risks of being cancelled, etc. At my current unit the PD are rarely canceled and we always seem to be begging people to come in and help. I don't know what the atmosphere for availability is like in the other hospital. And I realize it could change quickly if the census changes, so it's not set in stone anyway. I am planning on starting a family in the next year or so, and I feel like this PD situation would be better for that. But I would also be giving up a future 3 months of maternity leave if I go PD now. My heart says go for PD, my head says I'm nuts. What do you think? Thank you!

I work with a nurse who was once on the phone with a doctor and said "I think the pt is experiencing retarded dyskinesia." AMAAAZING!

Hello everyone!I have a question. If you wanted to become a nurse educator, can you get work with an MSN in education? Or do you really need a doctorate? I have heard this from some people and I am wondering what the take is out there.Similarly, if someone had an msn in nursing education and then got a post masters certificate as a nurse practitioner, will employers take you seriously for an NP position?Thank you!!

oh! That 3 years is including nursing school. I guess I shouldn't count that? Orientation- two days shadowing another charge. That's it.

Hello friends, I've been working in my psych unit for all of 5 months. I've been a nurse for a year and a half, and this is my first hospital position. Despite my protesting to my manager that I am not ready to be in charge, she insists. The FT nurses and some of the part timers rotate being in charge. She basically told me I have to start being in charge because she needs somebody to do it. There aren't many FT nurses on my shift, and one of them just went out on maternity leave. The manager makes it sound like I'm not being a team player by not wanting to be in charge and share the responsibility that all of the nurses have (even though not all of them have it.) I feel extremely frustrated. I'm sure I'm competent, and I'll manage because I don't have a choice. But it just isn't right, I should be allowed to have more experience before I'm put in charge, and the whole situation has me so frustrated, it makes it hard to show up on the floor every day. Has anybody else been put in this sort of situation? What did you do? How did you handle it? Thank you!

Hello friends, I've been working in an acute care psych unit for 6 months now. I'm feeling fed up with my unit. When I first got there I loved it. I really thought that I wanted to be a psych nurse. I came to work every day excited to be there, excited to work with my pts and help them however I could. But the more time passes, the more I feel dragged down by the unsavory aspects of my work place. the administration doesn't care about what type of pts we have as long as the beds are filled. my unit is more of a drug detox than a psych unit. The unit is "voluntary" but the ED tricks pts into signing in instead of being committed. The staffing is poor. The docs don't assess the pts, they wave at them in the hallway and bill them for a 20 minute session. People who med seeking linger in the unit for weeks, and pts who are still actively hallucinating get discharged. I don't know, I could go on and on with a list of things you have probably heard other people complain about. How long do I wait before I run? and where do I run to? I truly thought I wanted to be a psych nurse, and go and get my NP in psych, but I dont know what I want anymore. Maybe I'm just having a wake up call to the reality of bedside nursing. Or maybe it's just the place I work in now, and not every place is like this. Its just getting harder and harder to drag myself to work every day. Does anybody have any thoughts of advice? Thank you!

I just wanted to let everyone know what the outcome was, in case you were wondering! I've ended up accepting the psychiatric nursing job. My decision was somewhat helped along by external factors (ie this job did not require relocation), but I think that really I'm more suited to be a psych nurse than an OR nurse. The OR nursing was more for an exploration of what my interests -may- be, whereas I know psych nursing is already an interest. Anyway I am happy with my decision thus far, though I haven't started the job yet. I start mid September. I'm excited to say I'll see some of you around the psych forum soon!

Do you like actually interacting with patients? Are you good at therapeutic communication? Are you emotionally intelligent? I think these are important. Just something to consider.

I was thinking.... I have frequently heard that you can get pegged into a label as a psych RN. but i havent heard the same of being an OR RN until this thread. thoughts?

I love hearing about the two different fields! It gets me excited to do either. Both. I'm not expecting anything easy in either field. Nor wouldni want it easy- I'm not a fan of being bored. I could see how the OR could be more physically demanding.. And I remember how mentally exhausted I felt after my psych rotation days... Hut the question is what will be more rewarding for me, and I suppose also, what will best benefit my lifestyle and goals.. Hmm. The million dollar question.

What would be the difference between a first assist and an np that assists in surgery? I used to be drawn to the idea of being an RNFA, but I heard they get screwed a lot as far as actually getting paid..which would be unfortunate, to do all that work to get your cert and have to wrestle with insurance companies and surgeons to make any money..

Okay haha. I know EXACTLY what you are talking about. I do have an oddball sense of humor for one..

your creative choley comment cracked me up! You bring up some good thoughts that i hadnt considered, thank you. Honestly, i have days where im not sure i would want to be a psych NP. I thought i did...but lately i feel like i dont know which way is up. I've also considered the fact that i might like to teach nursing one day (again, i hint that i used to teach...) and if that were the case i think OR would probably be better from the perspective of being able to draw on clinical experience for future lessons and clinical classes...there are so many directions you can go with nursing, which is turning out to be both a blessing and a curse for me.. oy!

Thank you Jules. I would be interested to know what you are thinking of when you say the temperament of the two nursing specialties are similar? just curious, it sounds like an interesting observation.

Hello nurses! I need some opinions because I'm feeling pretty stuck right now, so if you would be so kind please share your thoughts! I appreciate your time. :) I am now one year out of nursing school, working in a LTC facility. It's not really my thing but it was where I could get hired, and beggars can't be choosers in this economy as many of you well know. I'm lucky enough to possibly have a job offer from two very different fields. One is in an acute psych unit in a hospital and the other is in the OR. I've always been interested in psych. It was my favorite clinical in school, and I have a background in speciAl education. I really enjoy the therApeutic aspect of working with the patients. I've Been strongly considering attending school to become a psych NP. However, while I was in nursing school I did develop an interest in the OR. We did not have a rotation there though, only a few brief observation days. But what I saw I loved. I enjoyed the feel of the controlled chaos, and the amazing sites I saw. I could see myself really enjoying going to work and experiencing so many amazing procedures. I've also spoken to some OR nurses and done a bit of reading to develop a sense of what the job entails. I have a strong intErest in both specialties and I have personality traits that could really lend a hand in either field. I'm not going to make the decision based on money. I do want to consider that i am planning on starting a family within the next 2 or 3 years (approximately) and that being able to work on a part time basis while I have children is important to me. The OR position has a one year orientation and is a big commitment. If I find I do not enjoy it i will not be a happy camper. However I am aware that OR training is not easy to come by, and I am thinking perhaps I should take the position while I can. I imagine it is easier to switch from OR to psych than from psych to OR.. Right? However I'm not sure what my long term goals in the or would be. In psych I know I would want to become an NP eventually. Sometimes I think it's like this.. I don't really want to be a psych nurse... But I want to be a psych NP. Does that make any sense? So as you can see I am waffling about, and could really use a sounding board to reflect on. Any thoughts are welcome. Thank you friends!

I would love to hear more about this too!

You can try to get a job as an mds nurse or mds coordinator at a long term care facility. Though it's also possible you don't feel comfortable because you are still new, or Kay e it's specifically the place or unit you work in? I'm only a year out so I understand how somedays you just want to run screaming out the door. But also try to think of he good got doing. Nobody would blame you if you decide bedside isn't rigt for you, but it's easier to find something else with a little more bedside experience first.

Shayray, I reread your post again and I thought I should add that I also got hired to a locked alzheimers/dementia unit. As far as specific responsibilities, your number one job will be to give out medication. You'll also be doing treatments (like dressing changes), chartig and documentation. Wig those kinds of residents you'll be monitoring behavior a lot to make it easier for the psychiatrist to accurately adjust their psych meds. You'll be trying to preven falls a lot... Mostly cause a resident has to go to the bathroom and All the cnas are busy with other patients, And mr or mrs so and so doesn't understand they have to wait because they have dementia. You'll spend a lot of time after med pass putting out small fires. The residents aren't acutely I'll with major diseases, but one has a cough And you have to get the order for robitussin, another one has a podiatry Appointment and needs arrangements to go out of the facility, or this one has a bruise and nobody knows where it come from so you hAve to facilitAte writing and collecting documentAtion from everyone. I work the day shift, so if your on another shift there is variation, but this is generally what the day is like. I hope this helps! If you have more questions you can pm me and ill help the best I can. :)

I was in the same position last august. Now I've been working inltc and as a nurse for 9 months. It's been a good experience, and I've been grateful for the work when it's so hard to find a job. I've learned the most about time management, and facility politics. You can do the job, just keep in mind for yourself it's a learning experience and a stepping stone for bigger and better things.

Hey everyone! I have an interview for an assisted living position next week (night shift). Currently my experience is in ltc, early and late stage alzheimers. Can you talk to me about some of the positives of working in al? I just don't want to harp in the fact of why it's better than my current job. I want to be able to talk about why I will love al for itself, not in comparison to something else. The other tricky part of this is that I'm persuing my masters as a psych np. How can I relate my long term goals to assisted living? Anny thoughts? As always, thank you for the help. I love the allnurses community!

As I recall it sort of works out to one liberal arts class a semester.. Art history, philosophy, etc..

Thank you for the advice! I decided to start the Aanac course series and I'm moving along pretty quickly. I'm realizing as I take the courses that if I didn't already have mds experience I wouldn't understand any of this so I'm glad I get to work on the mds already. Hopefully this cert will boost my career a little!