Psych nursing to start out?

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Hi there!

I'm getting ready to graduate pretty soon with my RN license and I've done a lot of clinical rotations so I've got a pretty good idea of what I want to do and what I don't want to do. I know it's recommended by so many nurses to do a couple years of med-surg but I'm not doing it, at least not to start out. Anyways, I really liked my psych rotation and am really considering going into psych nursing after school. I was wondering if there are any nurses out there who went straight into psych after school or anyone who has a recommendation for a place to start out other than med-surg before I go into psych in a couple years maybe? Thanks!

Jackie

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Welcome to allnurses! :balloons:

There are several older threads here about this same question. You could browse the Psych Nursing forum (under the Specialty tab) to find them if you are interested in reading what members have already discussed about this.

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation!

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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:

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No need to apologize -- I just wanted to make you aware that there is info already here that you can review. It takes a while to find your way around here! :)

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Specializes in psychiatry, addictions.

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!!!!

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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.

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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. :D

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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.

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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.

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