Psych nursing to start out?

Oops! Sorry.. I guess I'm new to this site and hadn't browsed around enough! Thanks for the help though. I will look under that tab. :wink2:

Following the advice of instructors and others, I spent some time working med-surg before I switched into psych nursing. I personally found that my med-surg year gave me experience unrelated to and irrelevant to psych nursing. If you want to work in psych, get a job in psych; if you want to work in med-surg, get a job in med-surg. If you are at all inclined to school, considering getting an MSN degree in psych mental health nursing, either as an NP or CNS. Graduate school in nursing is not at all hard -- it is more of a gigantic endurance race!!!!

I am currently a Psych nurse. I really didn't want to start out there but it pretty much was the only job I could find after school and that was also 6 months after I graduated. It's not I don't like Psych nursing I've found not to be my cup of tea. I've been at my job for almost 3 years now and afraid I starting to feel like I"m stuck especially with the job market the way it is and it makes me feel I will be there even longer. There are other aspects as to why I'm not so happy there that also don't help but if you feel it's your true calling, go for it. Do what you love not what people tell you you should do.

I am currently a new grad and my first job is in Psych. I work on the Ped's floor, so it was kinda what I wanted and Psych is the bonus :wink2: I like the job and it helps when you have great co-workers to work with. It's really up to you where you want to start your career. If you feel Psych is not your cup of tea, you can also do something else. I always said when I was in school that I didn't want to do Psych, but it's pretty good so far.

I heard it is not good to start out as a psych nurse right after graduation. I am a new grad as well, I worked for months in subacute unit and I hated it. I did learn a lot, but forget about patient-nurse interaction, simply no time for that. I had already 2nd interview in outpatient psych facility, it is not my cup of tea but thats the only place that offered me a job so far. Actually I applied to one of the hospitals and I have interview there tomorrow, guess what.. on a psych floor. I didnt even apply there but seems like there is a psych nursing shortage in NJ.

I am interested in psych nursing. I am a second career guy looking at getting into nursing. I have been conflicted on if I should go for it or get a master's degree in social work. Do you guys in psych get to work with psycho-social aspects of your patients' lives? Psych nursing seems intriguing because of the unpredictability of the patients and their needs.