Psych NP Questions

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I have been looking into becoming a psychiatric NP recently. However, I do not have any experience on an acute psych unit. Is it possible to do the psychiatric NP route without having inpatient psych experience? What would be the best experience, other than psych, for becoming a psychiatric NP. I have an interest in the treatment and management of psychological issues, and would ultimately like to work in an outpatient clinic. I also think I might even like managing the care of the acute psych patients..I just don't want to be the one who is with them for twelve hours. Is there anyone out there who is thinking about going into the psych NP role, but has no desire to work on an inpatient psych unit? Thank you for any input!

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Specializes in behavioral health.

Many psychiatric NP programs require psych experience. How did you know that you wanted to be a psych np? As a psych NP, you will see these same patients who go to IP units, but you won't know what they do there. The MD and NP definitely see different perspectives of the patient than the psych nurse and techs who deal with them for 12 hours. I recently applied to psych NP programs as IP is not what I want to end up doing either, but I'm really grateful for the experience. (it's really not that bad =P I would be much happier at my job if I was as happy with my collegues as I am with most of my patients). While it is certainly true that the psychiatrists aren't ever trained to deal with them for 12 hours, being a psych RN is just a really unique experience. I see a big picture.. admits..therapist/case worker/doctor/family interactions..and placements.

and make sure that you actually like psych patients! It is a very distinct population. I love them, but they tend to grind less-tolerant people into the ground.

Here is the psych nurse forum: https://allnurses.com/psychiatric-nursing/

:twocents:

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I also had the same question as psych np, would long term psych care count?.Iwas thinking of working with long term psych patients to see if i like it....i find acute care 'too stressful for me...I like psychology but don't have psych Rn experience...must get that to consider...NP in Psych to work with outpatients...

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Specializes in Psychiatry (PMHNP), Family (FNP).

I'm a psych. NP now working on DNP, had many years of inpt. psych. experience, for the most part loved it. I don't think anywhere else can you deal w. folks so scared and disenfranchised and so grateful for sincere assistance. Granted, lots of nursing school psych. experiences are h-o-r-r-i-f-f-i-c (like so much of nursing school :chuckle). I remember one site where the charge nurse welcomed our student group with "..and this is Johnny who just recently killed his mother..." Very nice first exposure to psych and NOOOOO, nothing at all to be afraid of! Not to mention fueling stigma! But I digress...I think my psych. inpt. experience has been invaluable in really understanding different diagnostic groups, treatments, issues and etc... Granted you might be able to pick this up along the way, depending upon your experience. Perhaps most importantly, in an inpt. setting (or any setting where you are working with the mentally ill, long term or short term) you will be able to determine if you have the temperament/talent/interest to work with this -for the most part- lovely batch of humanity. Psych. nursing needs folks with good hearts and compassion to share. Good luck!

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Thanks Smitty08,

:heartbeat

you put a positive spin on it, i have got to take the plunge and see if this is for me, i am in the midst of 2 grad MSW classes, and realized the amount of $$ and effort..and i dont have psych exp...I worked so hard for my BSN. So i will look for a long term psych unit to finally experience it, I learn by "doing" ...and nursing has so many opportunities :nurse:

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