BettyDear

First of all congrats on graduating and welcome to the world of nursing. I don't believe any job will really hold you back if psych is your area of interest because as my psych professor used to say, "it's all psych!" Just about all experience as a nurse can be worthwhile if you enter into it with an open mind and the idea that you are there to learn in order to strengthen your general clinical skills. I have been working community psych for 10+ years. My first job out of nursing school was in a rehab hosp. where I picked up some good basic clinical skills; assessment, wound care; trach, IV's, time management and so on. It was also a great experience as at the time insurance allowed patients to actually stay inpatient for a good period of time and you really got to establish a relationship with them as they went through the recovery process. From there I did a stint in long-term care. Then it was out into the community working with clients living in residential programs and ultimately with a PACT team (Program of Assertive Community Treatment) serving individuals with chronic mental health issues. I think I always knew I was destined to be a psych nurse just took a bit of an indirect route but got there anyway. It hasn't ever been "easy" but it's all been worthwhile in regards to my career. My thought is that there is no absolute right or wrong here so try not to put that pressure on yourself. I agree with Meriwhen that if your heart is set on psych then go for it. I graduated with plenty of nurses that went straight into certain speciality areas without getting med/surg. first and they have done just fine. The clients my team works with are a fantastic group of individuals that happen to have a psychiatric diagnosis and need compassionate, skilled nursing care just like anyone else. I understand your families concerns fueled at least in part by the stigma associated with mental illness. Guess I would just add that there are risks inherent with being a nurse irregardless of the type of nursing and any nurse can get hurt on the job. As part of any psych job you should receive specific training regarding preventing and de-escalating highly charged situations and maintaining safety for yourself and others. Follow your heart, trust your instincts, practice good self-care, keep learning...you will be just fine. All the best.