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Discussion

Psych tech during prereq's?

Hi there! I am scheduled to take prereq's at a local CC this summer/fall...I applied to Drexel's post BA ACE program for Spring 07 and I'm waiting to hear back from them. I have a BA in psych with social work exp, and I was thinking about looking for a psych tech job while I'm doing my prereq's to get a leg up for nursing school.

I did complete orientation as a psych tech about a year ago at a facility. I was working there per diem at night to supplement my FT social work day job. I left there unexpectedly after 2 months (I completed my shift, didn't abandon) due to things that I thought were unsafe and unprofessional. Dirty hospital, abusive language towards geri patients, a patient was body slammed by a tech when she tried to attack him, got a black eye as a result, a tech getting a back massage from a dual patient in the lounge, lack of training for my job, etc etc.

Because I didn't give any official notice - called HR said I would not be back, turned in keys and badge, do I still put this on a resume? Technically I did work there for a short time. How would I explain why I left? I know it's not good to badmouth a job, but I really felt at risk. One staff mbr told me I'd be left alone on a ward with 30 patients by myself, could I defend myself?!! I left after that shift. After a HEP-C client at my day job pulled a knife in my agency car and hurt herself, I quit that job too 2 weeks later. Is it proper to disclose these experiences, or just use a generic "I left to explore other avenues"?

Thanks for your advice!

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If I have this correctly, you want to know if it would be a good idea to get a psych tech job as experience prior to nursing school. You have BA in Psych already and have had one similar job which you left without giving notice.

As per my established preference, I would recommend a nurses aid/orderly position to help you gain medical experience and exposure to the real world of health care, prior to nursing school. You may have enough of a taste of psych already.

I don't think you have much choice about disclosing why you left the other positions. If you say something vague, they will ask. Becareful about maintaining the confidentiality of patients when you talk about it. It is not good that you left without notice. Legal, but not attractive to employers. Try to avoid that in the future. Once is a lifetime's worth of that move.

  • Author

Thanks Charlie. I think I'll just leave the psych tech position off of my resume. I was only there for 2 months, part time, a couple days a week. I left because I felt the environment was dangerous and I was never given sufficient orientation. I've never walked out on a job before. So instead of explaining it to someone, I'll just leave it off. I gave my day social work job 2 weeks notice though.

As long as there aren't any glaring gaps in your resume and you are not outright lying, it doesn't hurt to omit a position you have had. Some people, depending on their field they work in, will have more than one resume. For instance, an actor who also waits tables. He will have an Acting Resume and a Food service resume. A musician who performs as well as teaches and works as an administrative assistant could have as many as three resumes, each emphasizing a particular area. Since you definitely don't want to be "badmouthing" a previous employer as this raises red flags to an interviewer, avoid brining it up. If somehow someone finds out you worked there and asks, be as discreet and tactful as possible.

Fortunately in your case you had another job going on at the same time, so you should be okay. Also if you were in school, it is more acceptable to have less continuity during coursework.

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