Pros vs. Cons: Starting Career in Psych?

[JerseyGuy2]

Hi All: I am a brand new RN, a career-changing male who is just entering the nursing field. I have not yet decided where my "niche" is....and would appreciate your guidance.

Have been told, PRETTY CONSISTENTLY, that as a new RN, I "SHOULD GET A YEAR OF MED-SURG FIRST", before trying a specialty like psych. I am wondering how you experienced psych nurses feel about that advice I've been given?

Also, when you reply, if you could plz share whether your first RN job was in med-surg (or another non-psych area), before you became a psych nurse.

Thanks so much, for helping out a "newbie"!!:wink2:

[ear]

Jersey guy,

I went straight into psych. I am also in central NJ and there were not very many jobs avain a couple of years ago. I applied to the same hospital for 1 med surg and 1 psych position. Well, they didnt even allow me to interview for med surg, (I do have a psych BA so I guess that was the reason)

All through nursing school, I knew I never wanted to do med surg. I always hoped for a psych position of some sort. Well, by the end of school, I had been talked into the "need" to do that med surg year. So, needless to say, I was extremely frustrated with trying to find a postion when there were none for new grads.

Also, carnation pixie,

Please dont blame hat persons poor nursing behavior for being a psych nurse. That was just poor nursing judgement, and that happen everywhere, not beause you are assuming that nurse might not have had a year med surg.

(Dont mean to be sharp, but I am really tired of being treated like a second class nurse because I do psych)

[mama_d, BSN, RN]

I am not currently a psych nurse. However, I started my career out in geropsych (almost two years worth). It was at a small hospital, so we had patients who were not medically stable...it was like a cross between med-surg and psych. I truly feel that the time and experience I got there made me better able to communicate and deal effectively with the population of dementia/other psych issues patients that I get now on tele.

I know a lot of people can't stand psych, but I think that many nurses could benefit from the communication skills learned in the area to improve their skills on medical floors when working with those kinds of patients.

[Jules A, MSN]

I am not currently a psych nurse. However, I started my career out in geropsych (almost two years worth). It was at a small hospital, so we had patients who were not medically stable...it was like a cross between med-surg and psych.

Wow you had the double whammy! Hats off to you.

[Quilter0225]

Thanks to everyone on this post. I am in a similar situation to Jersey Guy. I will be entering pedi psych next month after a very bad 3 month experience in tele. I think I am meant to do psych and will be much more successful there. It is good to hear from experienced psych nurses that it is possible to change specialties later. Thanks, everybody!

[NZPN]

After reading through all this and having a think - I would suggest going to med/surg for a year if you are not totally sure that you want to do Psychiatric Nursing. As others have said, you do tend to get put into a "box" in the system once you go into this specialty - and though it is definitely not impossible to get out of should you wish, it can be rather difficult.

For myself, I have no regrets about going straight into Psychiatric Nursing when I graduated - there is no other kind of nursing that I would like to do, and if I'd been able to only Psychiatric that would have suited me fine. That said, I am very glad I did have to do general nursing during my training.

But I don't live in the U.S.A. and it's rather different there.

Where I am - if the patients need IVs, then 90% of the time we ship them out! We've only started doing them at all a few years ago.

[Quilter0225]

I see what you're saying. I had a job in telemetry. At the end of the orientation I was told it was not a good fit and to look elsewhere. In my area right now no one is hiring new grads for anything except critical care. All the med surg jobs ask for a minimum of one year of experience. I do have eight years of experience in special ed., so I thought I might give pedi psych a try. As it turns out, they are the only ones interested in hiring me. I am hoping that I will be able to maintain/develop my med surg skills by possibly floating to the acute care psych unit when I'm not needed on my home unit. I am interested in psych, I just don't know if that's what I want to do for the rest of my career.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

You might get to flex your med/surg skills in psych if the place you work has need for it. When I first worked psych, our floor was the only one where the RNs did peritoneal dialysis! As for working psych without the year of med surg--I think it's ok if that's where your heart is. I've found that if you leave psych, you can get into med/surg and can relearn the skills pretty easily. One manager told me that she could teach skills to a monkey, but what she hired for was problem-solving, ability to be flexible, and willingness to work hard.

[Quilter0225]

You might get to flex your med/surg skills in psych if the place you work has need for it. When I first worked psych, our floor was the only one where the RNs did peritoneal dialysis! As for working psych without the year of med surg--I think it's ok if that's where your heart is. I've found that if you leave psych, you can get into med/surg and can relearn the skills pretty easily. One manager told me that she could teach skills to a monkey, but what she hired for was problem-solving, ability to be flexible, and willingness to work hard.

The quote from the manager is funny! At this point I am just thankful to have a job. I think my experience in special ed. will help a lot. I also think of myself as very "teachable." Thanks for your input!

[RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN]

I know how it feels to hear that old motto--you need to do at least a year of med/surg.....I came out of nursing school sure I wanted to be a Labor and Delivery Nurse and had no interest in doing med/surg. I was there 6 months, got it out of my system and knew it wasn't my niche. Ended up doing about a year and 7 months on a medical/respiratory floor --good as I knew I didn't like surgical, ortho, oncology or tele and on this floor I didn't have to do any of those--maybe a couple people with lung CA but no chemo-- on hospice. When I hit that seventh month of my second year it hit me--okay I got what I needed here and I need to try psych--did and have been in it since pretty much. First inpatient where I used my medical skill a lot-- and now in Psych ER, which I like, it's a different kind of exhausting then inpatient psych. and different work in a lot of ways. They do require psych experience to work there and I got that so I could work in that setting--I am wanting now to move into putpatient and just to the psych ER per diem-- Maybe going and spending a day or two on a psych unit might help so you can see how it really is.........they would probably love to have you. and yes more men in psych is good-- for the patients of course-- not that it matter to me personally being a lesbian!!! LOL Good luck to you and I hope you find something you love!!!

[Quilter0225]

I need to try psych--did and have been in it since pretty much. First inpatient where I used my medical skill a lot-- and now in Psych ER, which I like, it's a different kind of exhausting then inpatient psych. and different work in a lot of ways. They do require psych experience to work there and I got that so I could work in that setting--I am wanting now to move into putpatient and just to the psych ER per diem--

Tell me more about the psych ER. Is it a separate ER in a regular hospital, or part of a freestanding mental health place? Sounds interesting.

I started my new job as an adolescent psych RN this week. I am still in the classroom part of orientation, but am anxious to get on the floor and work with the kids. I had 5 months on a tele floor right after graduation, and it was not a good fit. This move is also from a smaller community hospital to one of the top 5 peds hospitals in the nation! I am excited!