Psych Nursing - Houston

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

I'm a fairly new RN and I have a full-time job where I work three 12's per week. I'm in school finishing the BSN by distance ed, but I still have a significant amount of free time right now. I think I'd like to see what psych nursing is all about, but I haven't found any good leads for places that have part-time/PRN openings and will take an ADN with no psych nursing experience. Psych was my major at one time so I have a ton of psych credit hours and experience working on a campus-based crisis hotline.

Anyone have suggestions? I've checked out Devereux (wanted experience), Neuropsychiatric Center (no PT/PRN openings), The Watershed (no RN openings here) and IntraCare (says to visit the facility for info on openings, which I plan to do) and a few other places.

[lytexas]

How do you like the 3 12's per week? Im looking to get a Fri Sat and Sun from 7p-7a but im not sure how it will affect my school during the week? Do you find yourself tired during your 4 off days, like playing catch up or anything?!

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

I work three 12's, but not in a row right now. Sometimes I'll have a Mon-Tues or a Sat-Sun, but no more than 2 back-to-back. Sometimes at the end of my second 12, I feel like I'm going to fall over. We do have weekenders that work Fri-Sat-Sun for a substantially higher hourly rate and they say they like it, especially when they get the same assignment for 3 days. The assessments and MAR's go more quickly, etc.

[lytexas]

oh...great thank you! and good luck with your hunt, wish I could help I am trying myself to move back to houston and find a hospital to work in and try to finish my RN, im working as a CNA now, but I feel I can make more in Houston than Austin and I have a WAY better chance of getting into a school! Well again good luck!

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Thanks for the good wishes. I might be asking a bit much, even in Houston, but I figured that I would give Allnurses a shot.

[veggiegarden]

What about The Menninger Clinic or WestOaks?

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

What about The Menninger Clinic or WestOaks?

Thank you for the suggestions! I checked out both. Menninger does have PT/PRN openings, but they want 2 yrs of psych nsg experience for every opening that I found. West Oaks shows only FT openings right now. Same for Cypress Creek, which is in the same system. But, I'm trying to keep my eyes open.