Psych RN to ED or get MSN?

amzyRN · Nov 28, 2016

I would pursue the route I was most passionate about. If you are looking for a change and wanted to do more "regular" medical nursing, go to the ED. If you want to stay in psych, get the MSN. It might be challenging to go from psych to the ED because you'll have to use a lot of skills you might not have used since nursing school, IV starts, Foleys, etc. It might take you longer to orient to the ED if these skills are a little rusty. You will have an edge with the psych patients who come into the ED and I'm sure those skills will be a great asset.

Guest219794 · Dec 3, 2016

FWIW-

I am now working with the third recent convert from psych to ER in our department. All three motivated, smart people. all started in psych after school.

Take this with a huge grain of salt- only my observations:

It seems like they would have done better straight out of school to ER than coming over from psych.

I don't think their challenges are insurmountable, but it's going to take a lot of work. Other than some limited psych specific stuff, they don't seem to know a whole lot about the kind of nursing we do.

So- my thought is that if you think you would love ER nursing, and want to do the job- go for it. Get ready to work your ass off, and expect to study and research on your free time.

If you just want the experience as a stepping stone to something else- don't do it. it won't work out well. You will be surprised, despite the competence you have developed in your field at how much you have to learn.

You will be dealing with life and death issues, the outcome of which will depend on your competence, And, in this regard, you will be close to starting from scratch.

On the plus side- lots of psych issues in ER, and in that regard you will have a lot to offer.