Psych internship

There was a job fair at school recently and the hospital where I hope to work was offering information on internships. I applied and might work as a patient care intern for a semester. About two years ago, I spent a year in mental health as a volunteer doing mostly clerical work and eventually fetched supplies,etc. passing through patient areas. In other words, the staff trusted me. They said they'd welcome me and need the extra hands. :Melody:

I don't know what the scope would be. Only that we would work directly with a seasoned RN and earn a competitive wage. I'm thinking of splitting my days between psych and ER.

I'd love your feedback! Advice, comments, whatever you'd like to say.

Good luck with your internship. Maybe you'd enjoy being a psychiatric CNS and Prescribe in the ER as a crisis/liason consultant?

Good luck with your internship. Maybe you'd enjoy being a psychiatric CNS and Prescribe in the ER as a crisis/liason consultant?

Thank you, Psychaprn. Yes, I intend to become a NP in psych in order to practice psychotherapy and prescribe meds.

Oops. I forgot to mention (blush, blush) that I'm just finishing the second semester of a two-year RN program. I want more time caring for patients before moving on to advanced med/surg. That is why the internship program caught my eye.

Thank you, Psychaprn. Yes, I intend to become a NP in psych in order to practice psychotherapy and prescribe meds.

Oops. I forgot to mention (blush, blush) that I'm just finishing the second semester of a two-year RN program. I want more time caring for patients before moving on to advanced med/surg. That is why the internship program caught my eye.

P.S. I learned all the med surg I needed on the job working on an inpt. psych. unit. I never worked on a med surg unit before. As for the argument that a psych nurse (to- be )should work first on med surg unit-the same could be said for a med surg nurse needing to work on a psych unit at some time. ALL nurses need psych experience and skills whether they know it or not. Many times I was called by med surg units for assistance in dealing with basic pt. problems. I also consulted with them when needed their expertise. It's all about us respecting and helping each other.