Psych Nursing

Davey Do · Nov 10, 2014

EXCELLENT Background to have for Psych Nursing, Kandigirl! You shall do well and go far.

Don't worry about the Nose-Snubbers. Like the Mentally Ill, there's a Stigma with Psych Nurses, also.

Do a Search on this Forum. There are all sorts of Great Insights into Psych Nursing out there. Or you can PM me if you wish.

The Very Best to you, Kandigirl.

ddunnrn · Nov 10, 2014

I agree with Davey Do (who is obviously also a genius since his initials are DD like mine) that psych nurses get stereotyped as " not real nurses", etc. I have almost 30 years psych nursing experience, all in psych, in a variety of settings. The thing I most,liked about it is that you can use all of your life's experience to help your patients--if you know music or art or sports, etc., that will be a bridge to help you connect with someone. The other thing I learned very early on is that being a normal, functioning human being yourself is the most important part of the therapeutic experience you help to provide. Your "book learning" theory is just icing on the cake. Trust your intuition, make safety your #1 priority, and you'll be fine. There are lots of different ways to be a psych nurse, from correctional nursing D&A, grief counseling, et al. Good luck!!

PeacockMaiden · Nov 10, 2014

The money can be good, depending on the facility.

In my area, there are a few "for profit' cooperate organizations that pay notoriously low.

However, there are a few inpatient psych facilities in the area that are associated with hospitals, and those nurses receive the same pay they do in the regular medical hospital.

Also in my area, there are a few state psych hospitals (corrections), and these jobs pay very well.

Don't listen to the nurses that say "it's not worth it". I think it's worth it. I have been in psych for just over one year and I love it. I have plans to stay in psych for the rest of my career.

lasair · Nov 10, 2014

It is totally worth it, those who say it is not should not be in it. when I trained all I heard was complaining but psychiatric nursing is what you make it yourself. I love it :)

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Nov 10, 2014

Psych nurses are some of the most awesome nurses there are! I was inpatient recently and every one of my nurses was fantastic. The 1:1 time with them was invaluable, and I'll never forget the one who sat with me and encouraged me to write myself a letter of forgiveness for all the wrongs I had done (or thought I'd done), to myself as well as others. I felt so much better after writing it and plan to keep it always as a reference for those times when I fall back into old habits, like blaming myself for my illness.

So if you've a mind to become a psychiatric nurse, go for it! We need all the good ones we can get. :yes:

Davey Do · Nov 11, 2014

I agree with Davey Do (who is obviously also a genius since his initials are DD like mine) .

Words of Wisdom:

Trust your intuition, make safety your #1 priority, and you'll be fine.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Dec 20, 2014

Hello, I work in the Healthcare field and recently graduated with a degree in Substance Abuse Counseling. I am currently working on prerequisites for nursing. I would love to do Psychiatric Nursing. When I talk to a few nurses and express my plans to pursue Psych nursing; they seem to turn their noses up. When I asked why most responded the money is good but it's not worth it.
Can anyone give me some insight into Psych nursing ?

Insight into psych nursing?

For me, as a new grad Lvn, the pay is right in line with what peers earn in SNFs. The RNs aren't really paid as much as they'd be paid at an acute hospital.

I agree with what the OP said about a stigma against psych nursing that mirrors the stigma against the mentally ill.

I really love working in psych. Where else can I work with truly vulnerable people who truly benefit from simple compassion and quality care?

My clients are grateful to have staff to listen to them, play with them, and get orders for their medical and psychiatric problems.

Today at work, one client held her baby doll as it was a real baby, I admired her baby. Other clients sang Christmas carols and I got to join in the singing. 5 clients were involved in physical altercations in which I intervened, counseled, received new orders, and did other nursing interventions to help the situation not to occur again.

The staff at my place of employment is made of people who genuinely have an interest in working with our population. I love my coworkers. Most of them work as part of a team and pitch in as needed to help. From the receptionists to the aides to the nurses, must bond with the clients and work as part of a cohesive recovery oriented team.

I love psych so much! I'm not sure what ill do when I become an RN, as private psych companies don't offer as much pay as acute facilities do.

vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN · Dec 20, 2014

I have been told that once you work in psych, other acute facilities will not consider you to have sufficient experience, which means that once you work in psych, you can't get out.

That saddens me. I really feel I'm in the right type of work for me, but I do not want to pigeon hole myself into a career without opportunities. Therefore, when I finish my RN, I may have to leave psych.

But, for right now, I know I'm learning to be a great nurse and I'm in the right place for me.

nurse lala, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2014

I am not sure that a psych nurses are paid any differently than other specialty fields. Those of us who love it like the fact that the work is not task oriented as experienced on Med/surg units. Less procedures and less back breaking toil. The benefits are actually being present to help when it most matters for those in dire need of support and compassion. But, yes, it is worth it.