Psychiatric Nursing?

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Hi! So, I really want to be a nurse, I was headed towards general nursing, but I'm not good at chemistry and I need that class to get where I need to be, so I'm leaning towards Psychiatric Nursing, the program requires either chemistry or general science (Along with Biology, which I'm really good at) is this a good option? I was leaning more towards geriatrics anyway, and I figure it'll likely be a lot of the same sort of work? Obviously not the same, but similar? I only really care about the helping and comforting people part of things to be honest, the pay is good, but I just want to help people, and I think this is a more realistic option for me, is psychiatric nursing a good path? Is it similar to regular nursing?

Anyway, the pay is about the same, the only difference is that I'll have to move out to Edmonton for university instead of staying home like I planned, but I like the sound of that to be honest, I want an adventure!

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Really once you get to be a nurse you're not using chemistry per se. Once you pass your boards you can choose your specialty. The hiring manager is not going to ask you whether you took general science or chemistry. It is however always good to get in medical surgical nursing in the beginning. But I know of new grads who have gotten right into their specialty. there are a lot of variables

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Wendy

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Really once you get to be a nurse you're not using chemistry per se. Once you pass your boards you can choose your specialty. The hiring manager is not going to ask you whether you took general science or chemistry. It is however always good to get in medical surgical nursing in the beginning. But I know of new grads who have gotten right into their specialty. there are a lot of variables

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Wendy

Well, its less to do with using chemistry when I get to the point of actually nursing, its more to do with the fact that I'm not going to pass my current chemistry course, and then I can't get into the next level if that makes sense. So I'm not worried about when I get to be a nurse, its how I'm going to get there, with psychiatric nursing, I don't atually need a chemistry course.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You have to note that the OP is in Canada and she is talking about 2 different programs. She has to choose between a BSN program or a Reigistered Psychiatric Nursing program.

I would recommend the BSn route. it will give you much more options job wise. you can still work in psych with a BSN.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Thread moved to Canada Nursing Programs forum.

Welcome to allnurses.com, MsWater, and good luck.

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You don't have to move out of Edmonton for the Psych programme. I understood that GMU was doing it on site. The Psych RN course is moving to the degree level, so you might not have a choice in the pre-reqs.

http://www.macewan.ca/wcm/SchoolsFaculties/HCS/Programs/PsychiatricNursing/AcademicPlanning/AcademicPlanning/index.htm

Alberta Hospital Edmonton is still open in various forms. RAH and the Glenrose has Psych units. The Glenrose has a very well known Geri-Psych unit.

The real reason that Chemistry is required is to be able to understand how the drugs affect the body.

A little bit more research from the OP, perhaps?

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I'll have to move out to Edmonton for university instead of staying home like I planned

You have to note that the OP is in Canada and she is talking about 2 different programs. She has to choose between a BSN program or a Reigistered Psychiatric Nursing program.

I would recommend the BSn route. it will give you much more options job wise. you can still work in psych with a BSN.

I would much rather take the BSN route, its not so much of an matter of which one I want at this point, I'll explain better in the next quotes.

You don't have to move out of Edmonton for the Psych programme. I understood that GMU was doing it on site. The Psych RN course is moving to the degree level, so you might not have a choice in the pre-reqs.

http://www.macewan.ca/wcm/SchoolsFaculties/HCS/Programs/PsychiatricNursing/AcademicPlanning/AcademicPlanning/index.htm

Alberta Hospital Edmonton is still open in various forms. RAH and the Glenrose has Psych units. The Glenrose has a very well known Geri-Psych unit.

The real reason that Chemistry is required is to be able to understand how the drugs affect the body.

A little bit more research from the OP, perhaps?

Actually, I said "I'll have to move out to Edmonton for university instead of staying home like I planned" Not that I would have to move out of Edmonton.

Again, its not a matter of whether or not I'm going to NEED the chemistry that they're teaching me, its the fact that I can't do all the things I don't need, the things I need I can do, but I can't do the rest of it, which is why I'm not going to pass the course. I am currently taking Chemistry 20 (Grade 11) I am in Grade 12, so I had to go back and take that course, and I'm failing miserably, after we did the things I'm going to need I didn't understand and I couldn't wrap my head around it, I won't be able to take Chemistry 30 (Grade 12) if I don't pass this BUT I can take Science 30 (12) because I'm doing great in Bio. So while I would much rather be a RN, I'm wondering if RPN is a good option. Its going to be much easier for me to take that route because I'm not good at the chemistry I don't need. Does that make sense? If I need to explain my question another way then please tell me so.

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OK, what you need to understand is RN and Registered Psych Nurse are both RNs. I've worked with RPNs who work alongside RNs in Sub-Acute and Acute Care.

So, you need to understand the chemistry. One of my kids did Science 30 and he said the Chemistry portion was evil.

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OK, what you need to understand is RN and Registered Psych Nurse are both RNs. I've worked with RPNs who work alongside RNs in Sub-Acute and Acute Care.

So, you need to understand the chemistry. One of my kids did Science 30 and he said the Chemistry portion was evil.

Yes, I know that I need at least some of the chemistry (I've asked nurses at the hospital I volunteer at and the parts that I can do, are the ones I need.) I'm just trying to find out if the jobs are similar, which I'm assuming they are, I need to let my advisor know for sure that I want to take Science 30, at least I'll have a good chance at passing it, most of the chemistry might be evil, but I'm good at bio and okay with physics (I've heard there's very little of it, but I'm not sure) so it seems to be my best option, I would just like some opinions, I'm sorry if I was rather confusing (I've been running around a lot and yeah)

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I wouldn't say the jobs are similar. RNs work in many different areas.

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